Third annual event held in town and run by JMG staff and students

BY MADISON OSBORNE, STAFF WRITER

The Sanford JMG program hosted Special Olympics Bowling for the third year in a row on October 21 at Bowl-A-Rama in Sanford.

Special Olympics Bowling is for teens or adults with disabilities. The youngest who attended was 14 years old while the oldest was 62. This event gives the participants an opportunity to bowl and compete for the state championship.

This year there were 20 SHS students who helped run the event at Bowl-A-Rama, which is an all-day event that includes three rounds of bowling, plus lunch and a closing ceremony.

All bowlers receive participation ribbons and the top three winners receive first, second and third-place ribbons.

The event was $10 for participants, which included lunch, bowling shoes, and the cost to bowl. 

“It shows our students that they can overcome any barriers that they might have,” said Ms. Gifford, JMG teacher. “When they see people from 14 to 62 bowling, it shines a different light on what their life is like and what they can overcome.”

JMG works with Special Olympics in Portland. According to Special Olympic Maine, “Team sports bring people together. Special Olympics Unified Sports teams do that, too, and much more – in a really fun way!”

The event has been growing in popularity and, according to Gifford, has been at full capacity and JMG unfortunately hasn’t been able to expand. They are hoping to eventually expand, but it’s just not in the cards as of right now, she said.

Sebastian Cheney, JMG Co-President, said his favorite part of the day is “[Getting] to see the kids playing and having fun, and the big smiles on their faces.”