[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 7]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 9354]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



              MINI OLYMPICS A CREDIT TO MOUNT CARMEL AREA

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. PAUL E. KANJORSKI

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, May 23, 2001

  Mr. KANJORSKI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the 
participants and volunteers in the Mount Carmel Mini Olympics for 
People with Special Needs, which has grown in each of its seven years. 
This year's Mini Olympics will be held on June 2.
  Last year, I had the opportunity to witness first-hand the dedication 
of the athletes and the generosity of the many volunteers who make this 
event possible.
  A group of friends initiated the Mini Olympics to allow local special 
needs athletes the opportunity to participate that might not otherwise 
be possible due to the travel distance, lodging expenses and commitment 
of time that are sometimes necessary for the state or national Special 
Olympics. Building on that success, the Mini Olympics have become an 
annual event. The number of participants has grown from 44 at the 
beginning to 184 last year.
  Led by Chairman Ron Tanney, the Mount Carmel Mini Olympics for People 
with Special Needs Committee organizes this inspiring event with the 
help of many volunteers and community donors too numerous to list them 
all here.
  Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to call to the attention of the House of 
Representatives this extraordinary event and the people who make the 
Mini Olympics possible, and I wish them all the best as they continue 
with their many endeavors.
  I would now like to insert for the record an editorial from the 
Shamokin News-Item commending the volunteers and participants in last 
year's Mini-Olympics, words which I am sure will apply equally well 
this year.

                 Two `Class' Events That Make Us Proud

              [Shamokin News-Item Editorial, June 6, 2000]

       Two annual events, both held this past weekend, show the 
     class of area volunteers and the generosity of our area's 
     residents.
       The two events, of course, are the Mount Carmel Mini-
     Olympics for People with Special Needs and the Relay for Life 
     sponsored by the American Cancer Society.
       Seldom do we witness the level of unselfishness and the 
     concern for fellow human beings that is so apparent at these 
     two programs.
       This was the sixth annual Mini-Olympics and the program 
     keeps getting better every year. Thanks to a cadre of 
     dedicated volunteers who plan the day out of love, those who 
     help out at the events and the generous businesses, 
     individuals, organizations and government officials who 
     support it, the Mini-Olympics is a high point in the lives of 
     the participants and their families. Indeed, the lives of all 
     who are in the stadium are enriched because of the Mini-
     Olympics. It is truly a celebration of life.
       So too is the annual Relay for Life, in which people 
     throughout the region join forces to fight a terrible killer 
     and give moral support to those who fought their own personal 
     fights and to the families of those whose personal battles 
     are over. The camaraderie and unity of purpose exhibited by 
     Relay teams should serve as an inspiration for those of us 
     who make the mistake of trying to ``go it alone'' in tough 
     times.
       When cynics claim that this area is ``dying,'' we need only 
     point to the Mini-Olympics and the Relay for Life, events 
     which affirm our love for life and our commitment to each 
     other. These are events that should make us proud to be 
     residents of the Shamokin-Mount Carmel area.

     

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