Team Dover supports Special Olympics of Delaware

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Jared Duhon
  • 436th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. --  Special Olympics of Delaware worked in partnership with Team Dover volunteers to conduct the 2013 Special Olympic Delaware Cycling Tournament, Sept. 14, 2013, here.

Since 2010, the base has provided a safe, fun location for teams of the Mid-Atlantic region: Maryland, Virginia, Delaware and Pennsylvania, to compete in various events, this year's event was a bicycle race.

Three hundred Team Dover volunteers supported the event by setting up, parking, time keeping for the seven Special Olympic bicycle races of varying distance and cleanup. Senior Airman Anthony Calvillo, 436th Aerial Port Squadron cargo processer, supported the event by being a timekeeper for the athletes.

"I think it is cool to help out in events like this. It shows that that we aren't always fighting, and do care about the needs of the people around us," said Calvillo. "Also, being able to provide positive words of encouragement and see them excited to race was enjoyable."

Another volunteer, Senior Airman Lori Cord, 436th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron crew chief, said she was pleased that the event was being held on base.

"I love it when the base does this kind of stuff," said Cord. "This shows that Dover AFB is involved with the whole community and not just blocking everyone out."

Cord gave encouraging words to one athlete, Jillian Calanna from Ocean View, Del. , who has been participating in the Special Olympics for three years.

Calanna said she likes competing on base though she does not know much about the military she really likes to see the planes take off.

The events started after Dover AFB personnel were contacted by Mark Wise, Special Olympics of Delaware director of training and volunteer management, several years ago.

"We were looking for a place mid-state with a closed venue for safety aspects and after driving by we saw seeing perimeter road and began making phone calls," said Wise. "What we wanted to do is give our participants the opportunity to participate in a national caliber event; we would never get this support if we were outside the base."

Wise also said the base has embraced the event by having more volunteers every year.
"We couldn't hope for a better event or support," said Wise. "We had so many volunteers we had to turn some away. We couldn't ask for better support, it's always been top notch."

The people who get the most out of the support of the base is the athletes, Wise said.

"Most of the time they are riding in parking lots or riding the perimeter road around high schools," said Wise. "This is a national class event. A lot of special Olympic events are left in a corner and don't get embraced the way the Dover event has been."