This week I want to flag up what is upcoming for the children who attend the Centre for Exceptional Learners in the Best of Eleuthera series – the Special Olympics Bocce Tournament here in Eleuthera.
They take part every year in the Special Olympics – mostly a track and field event that happens in Nassau in the summer. But the exciting and more immediate news is that the Special Olympics are holding a Bocce tournament right here in Eleuthera at the end of April.
Bocce is an Italian game and the point of it is to roll a ball as close to the target ball – called the palina – as possible. It is very similar to petanque – the French game. After soccer and golf it is the third most participated sport in the world – I had no idea……
It gives people with special needs the opportunity to have social contact, develop physically and gain self confidence. And of course to have some fun !
Bob and I took part in a little tournament with the Exceptional Learners a couple of years ago and I have to tell you I was pretty rubbish at it ! The children were very good and hugely enjoyed it – it is really good fun – especially for them when I made some utterly hopeless shots !
Anyway it is on the 29th and 30th April – the team, consisting of 3 players and a reserve, will be staying with the other participating teams at the Rock Sound Club. The tournament actually takes place in Tarpum Bay – I will post times and exact locations closer to the time.
I am asking directly for your support for this event – both financially and with your attendance. Many of you of course will not be here for the event so you are forgiven for not attending – but anyone who can make it would be very welcome.
The physical activity and the social interaction are both a great gift for these children who have so very little in their lives – and to see them develop their skills and abilities over the 3 years I have been involved with them is a joy to see.
Huge credit has to go to Mr Tony Crean who teaches them physical education every week and is the person who organized the Bocce Tournament. Plus of course the wonderful Mr Bill Holland who is the principal of the school.
I am really looking forward to supporting this event and I hope that in your own way you will too…..
Special Olympics is a global organization – read more about it by clicking on the link
If you feel that you would like to make a donation to this great event and the one in the summer in Nassau then you can send money to me via my PayPal account which of course I will forward on to the Centre for Exceptional Learners – or you can make a direct donation to the school if you are here in Eleuthera. Either way let’s try to make this a very special occasion for these very special children and make sure that they enjoy a rare treat ………
Please contact me for details of the PayPal account through the comments section
