Special Olympics: Winning a gold, winning at life

Published Dec. 8, 2010
By Staff Sgt. Carolyn Viss
JBPHH Public Affairs

JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, Hawaii -- When 1,500 people volunteered to help with the 2011 Special Olympics Hawaii State Championships here Dec. 4 and 5, they gave 800 disabled athletes not only the chance to earn a gold medal but also a shot at winning in life.

"Athletes do better in school, at home, and in the workplace, the longer and more involved they are in Special Olympics," said Dan Epstein, manager of the tri-base event, which was held on both sides of Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam as well as the Marine Corps Base-Hawaii. Eighty to 90 percent of the volunteers were military service members, he said.

According to him, a recent study showed that unemployment, either part-time or full-time, among people with intellectual disabilities is around 10 percent overall; however, 50 percent of Special Olympics athletes are employed in either manner. This staggering statistic makes volunteering for this event, which has been held here annually for about 15 years, a "no brainer."

"The support we get from military members is phenomenal," Epstein said. "They have great facilities here. We have athletes who are staying on base and eating on base; we are using military buses; and we have access to three different bowling alleys -- here, on Pearl Harbor, and at K-bay -- as well as basketball courts at all three locations."

The athletes and their 300 coaches, from all throughout the state of Hawaii, participated over the course of the weekend, ranging in age from 8 (officially) to 81. Special Olympics also hosts events for children as young as 3, Epstein said.

"Our athletes love it," he said. "We get a lot of folks who come back here year after year. It works both ways -- the military volunteers get a lot out of it and love being a part of it, and many of these men and ladies get the chance to do Special Olympics throughout the states and even overseas."

Master Sgt. Justin Helin, the 15th Medical Support Squadron NCO in charge of medical equipment repair, is one of those members who has volunteered for the games on and off throughout his 17-year military career, and now for the second time on Oahu.

"I like helping people," was his simple explanation for why he does it. "It's amazing to see the love and compassion that people have for the athletes. It's very much a family atmosphere."

Because three major events are held annually, including the summer games, Sergeant Helin said he meets many people, whether military or civilian, whom he then gets to see again and again.

"It's like a three-times-per-year family reunion," he said. "There's also a huge sense of accomplishment not; just for the athletes but also for the volunteers. You can see from the smiles and hugs that they all love being here."

These athletes train for an entire season, Epstein said. The state championships is not only their chance to show off the skills they've learned throughout the season -- it's also about the friendships they make and the experience of traveling with a team including the volunteers.

Most especially, it's about the self-confidence they gain and self-esteem they gain.

"There's a whole lot that goes along with it -- not just the sports skills," he said.

Jennifer Bensman, a 23-year-old, multi-talented competitor who sings, and plays bocce ball and softball, walked away with a gold medal for Division 29 bowling on day one of the championships here. She is soon headed to Athens, Greece, for a swimming competition with Special Olympics.

"It's fun to come out with all my friends and do these things together," said Jennifer, who has been employed by Hawaii Pacific University, serving lunches, for five years. "I feel honored and excited."