Thank you for visiting my personal fundraising page.  I am a member of the 2013 Special Olympics World Games Team from Virginia. I am so grateful that so many family and friends have donated to support me reaching my fundraising goal. A special thanks to my dad's friend who encouraged people to donate by offering to match funds from September 19 through October 31 $2 for every $1 donated by anyone else.

As you can see, my goal has been met --- and exceeded! But, anyone can still donate. Any additional funds raised are going to come right back here to my local area to help other athletes like me reach their goals as they participate in our weekly sports programs throughout the year.

Every four years, thousands of Special Olympics athletes from around the world come together to showcase their athlete skills and celebrate the true spirit of competition through winter sports.  Through the 2013 Special Olympics World Winter Games, Special Olympics athletes and coaches will transcend boundaries of geography, nationality, political philosophy, gender, age, culture and religion.  The event will be held from January 26, 2013 thru February 5, 2013 in PyeongChange and Gangneung, Korea and will include 3,330 athletes and coaches representing 112 countries and over 15,000 family members, volunteers and spectators.  

The Special Olympics World Games unleashes the human spirit through the transformative power and joy of sports.  These games will help citizens throughout the world appreciate the contributions of every human being and reinforce the value of respect, dignity, acceptance, community and empowerment. Having just finished a week of training at Lake Placid, NY with the other 200 + athletes and volunteers that make up Team USA, I cannot begin to tell you how much this experience means to me -- and to all the athletes who are honored to represent the US in the games!.

Donating through this site is simple, fast and totally secure.  It is also the most efficient way to help me in my efforts to reach Korea and represent the United States of America and my hometown of Blacksburg, Virginia. Donating here is easy; but, if you'd prefer to donate by check, you can send your donation to our local Special Olympics office at POB 153, Blacksburg, VA 24063. Be sure to write in the memo line "World Games".

Many thanks for your support and don’t forget to forward this to anyone who you think might want to support this effort and donate too!