By: Alyson Kelly
It has always been an aim of the Johnstown High School Key Club, being a community service organization, to lend a hand to people in our community by either participating in fundraisers or helping to deliver encouraging messages to people that could use a little pick-me-up. It then should come as no surprise that the Key Club offered to aid in the execution of the final round of short track speed skating for the Special Olympics in Cambria County being held at Planet Ice in Johnstown on February 23. The mission of the Special Olympics is to empower individuals with intellectual and physical disabilities by providing them with an opportunity to become fit and to engage in competition with their peers. In addition to the events that took place at Planet Ice on February 23, other competitions such as skiing took place at Blue Knob Ski Resort and Hidden Valley Ski Resort, while the figure skating contests were held at the Cambria County War Memorial Arena.
The Key Club volunteers helped in the efforts at Planet Ice by assisting the skaters in prepping for their races, aiding in the bleacher seating, escorting those competing from the locker room to the ice, and interacting with skaters who were waiting for their race to begin. According to the volunteers, most of the skaters that participated seemed to be affected by Down Syndrome, a chromosomal disorder that involves a variety of birth defects ranging from characteristic facial features, intellectual disability, heart problems, and other overall health issues. Those afflicted with the disease are more likely to develop heart and intestinal defects, hearing and memory loss, infections, thyroid problems, and leukemia; it is one of the most common genetic birth defects, affecting 1 in 800 babies a year in the United States. In addition to skaters with Down Syndrome, others had disabilities such as blindness.
The first thirty or forty Key Club members that signed up to assist with the Special Olympics were permitted to attend, and one such member was Deanna Sanders, a sophomore at Johnstown High School who is her class representative for the service organization. When asked to give her opinion on helping with the Special Olympics, she indicated that she felt very inspired by the determination of those with disabilities, saying, "For me, helping out people afflicted with mental and physical disabilities was a great learning experience. The competitors were outgoing and fun to be around; they proved to be extremely talented and caring as well. By helping with this event, I felt that I was doing a service for those less fortunate than me." Sanders expressed an opinion that is likely held by all those who were involved, and the Key Club is thankful for the opportunity to be able to assist with the Special Olympics.
