Moose Lodge hosts benefit for Special Olympics

Officials with the Pahrump Moose Lodge opened their doors to host an annual fundraising event last Sunday.

The lodge held a spaghetti dinner to raise money for Pahrump’s Special Olympics team.

Jim Soltz is the Nye County Area Director for Pahrump’s Special Olympics.

As a coach and parent of an athlete, he says the annual event generates much needed funding for the local program where participants range in age from 8-to-80.

Events include basketball, track and field, bowling, golf and more.

“All of the money will be donated to the Pahrump program and it will stay here in Pahrump. We will celebrate our 15th anniversary next year. The Special Olympics is open to anyone with a disability. To compete, you have to be at least 8 years of age, but they can start practicing at age 5. You can be an athlete until your health no longer allows you to do it,” he said.

Each sport has a 10-week training session followed by regional competition where athletes travel to destinations such as Las Vegas, Mesquite and Reno to compete for medals.

The athletes are broken up into divisions by ages and ability.

Soltz said there are no losers when all is said and done.

“They are given gold, silver and bronze Special Olympics medals just like the regular Olympics. Sometimes athletes win a fourth place or fifth place ribbon. They are taught life lessons that will take them a long way. We have an oath that says: let me win, but if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt,” he said.

Chip Danielson has competed for 15 years.

He said his specialty is in track and field, as proven by all the medals around his neck.

“I compete in the 400-meter walk, the 800 and the shot put,” he said. “I thinks it’s going really well and I wouldn’t have it any other way. I also do golf, bocce ball and basketball when the season comes around. I like golf the best. It’s better than sitting at the house asking what can I do? I got out there and did something.”

Sean Flanagan has participated for more than three years.

“It’s awesome, I really enjoy it. I won some medals at the summer games. I like swimming the best,” he said.

Samantha Soltz a five-year resident, is the daughter of the area director.

She said she participates just to stay active.

“It’s good sportsmanship. I do bowling, basketball and bocce ball. I also like golf and track and field. I like track and field the most because it’s good exercise for me and I like to stay active,” she said.

Soltz’s father, meanwhile said the program would not be possible without the help from volunteers.

“Without volunteers, there would be no Special Olympics program in Pahrump. Without the kind donations and support, which we have in the community here, this just would not be possible. Right now we have about 46 athletes and almost 50 volunteer coaches that help out,” he said.

Additionally, Soltz said he wants to raise the program’s visibility throughout the community.

“It’s amazing because when I talk to people, they don’t even know that there’s a Special Olympics team in town. Name recognition is what we are trying to get. Thanks to events like this we can help get the word out that we are here,” he said.

Locally, volunteers are needed in all areas of the program.

To learn more about positions or to join as an athlete, call 537-2175 or logon to sopahrump@gmail.com.