Let the games begin!

Matheny adult patient Camille Van Valen competing in one of the track events.

The Somerset County Special Olympics is a very special competition for Matheny students and adult patients. Family members and volunteers from the community gather at the Bridgewater-Raritan athletic field to cheer on the athletes in both track and field events.

The mission of the Special Olympics is to provide year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children and adults with disabilities. In addition to being a fun day for everyone, the activities help the Matheny recreation therapy program fulfill its mission, which is to improve the students’ and patients’ physical, emotional, cognitive and social well-being.

About 45 Matheny athletes competed in the Somerset County Special Olympics, and seven of them will move on to the state Special Olympics competition, being held in June at The College of New Jersey.