Special Athletes Feted

CSUF Special Games-Kathleen E. Faley Memorial Slated May 1

April 21, 2009

Evan Vuong, left, gets a matching clown nose from Elder Race, 20, during the 2008 CSUF Special Games-Kathleen E. Faley Memorial. Photo by Kelly Lacefield

Nearly 3,000 special athletes from throughout the county will be the sports stars Friday, May 1, at the 24th annual Cal State Fullerton Special Games-Kathleen E. Faley Memorial held on the practice field north of Titan Gymnasium.

Opening ceremonies commence at 9:30 a.m. with master of ceremonies Ed Arnold, host of KOCE TV’s Real Orange news program. The athletes will take part in five to seven non-competitive athletic events, including football and basketball toss, T-ball, soccer goal kicks and a 50-yard dash. The daylong festivities include a barbecue lunch for the athletes and volunteers, visits by theme park characters, clowns, live music and plenty of support for the participants. All of the athletes receive a commemorative award ribbon and certificate of attendance in recognition of their efforts.

Johnny Ruiz, 2, runs through this obstacle with his Brodie Soares, 15, right behind him at the CSUF Special Games-Kathleen E. Faley Memorial May 1, 2008. Photo by Kelly Lacefield

The Cal State Fullerton Special Games-Kathleen Faley Memorial was launched in 1986 as a CSUF class project. Two years later, the games were dedicated to the memory of Kathleen E. Faley, an alumna who died in a car accident in 1987. She was the sister of event co-organizer Dan Faley and among the inaugural core group of Special Games volunteers. To this day, her family remains involved in the event’s planning and organization.