By Eliza Ridgeway
 PHOTOS BY JOE HU/TOWN CRIER Elvia Madrigal runs a race |
More than 800 student-athletes dashed, tossed and wheeled their way to victory at the Kiwanis Special Games at De Anza College Friday. The games, begun by the Kiwanis Club of Los Altos in 1979, have blossomed into a yearly celebration for school-age disabled athletes and a plethora of yellow-shirted volunteers.
An all-inclusive version of the Special Olympics, the Games are tailored to bring anyone and everyone into competition, and feature sports more innovative than those which grace the Olympic track. Athletes, who use wheelchairs, can test their dexterity and timing with a tetherball toss to knock down bowling bins or by directing an assistant when to drop a beanbag on target.
Volunteers are integral to the 10-yard dash and get their own workout helping. In one race, an assistant on each side held a little girl aloft, raising her by one hand as they pounded down the track.
Local high school Key Club members, including those from Los Altos, Mountain View and Gunn high schools, turned out as athletic assistants and organizers, as did Kiwanians. More than 200 assisted during the day in addition to parents, teachers, aides and siblings who came to support their athletes.
Gunn sophomores Dylan Mandoli and Jeanne Wang accompanied a group of high school athletes between events (each student participates in four) and got to know them by name. Mandoli said it was good to meet students he’d never encountered before, even though they attend school on the same campus. Students in mainstream classes in local high schools can spend all four years without meeting with their classmates with disabilities.
Arms raised, Covington Elementary School Principal Leslie Crane chanted, “Go, go, go!” as a young group took off in the 50-yard dash. Los Altos School District Superintendent Tim Justus and Loyola Elementary School Principal Linda Eckols joined Crane managing the 50-yard dash.
Every athlete received a participant ribbon, and first through third and best-effort ribbons were awarded in each event.
For more information, visit www.losaltoskiwanis.org.
