Volunteers and athletes participate in one of many events during the Special Games.

Special Athletes Feted

CSUF to Host Special Games-Kathleen E. Faley Memorial May 2

April 29, 2008

More than 7,600 special athletes and volunteers from throughout Orange County are expected to participate in the 23rd annual Cal State Fullerton Special Games-Kathleen Faley Memorial on Friday, May 2, on the practice field north of Titan Gymnasium.

The 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. program will kick off with opening ceremonies with master of ceremonies Ed Arnold, host of KOCE's Real Orange news program. Athletes will then take part in non-competitive athletic events, such as basketball and football toss, T-ball, soccer goal kicks and the 50-yard dash. All of the athletes receive a commemorative award ribbon and a T-shirt.

Among those helping the special athletes will be members of the student bodies from Servite High School in Anaheim and Whittier Christian High School in Whittier.

The festivities conclude with a barbecue lunch.

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, a CSUF 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.

For more information or to volunteer, call 657-278-3112.