Volunteers needed to bring enthusiasm, joy and fun to JMSSD

  • Published
  • By Karen Abeyasekere
  • 100th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
About 800 volunteers are still needed to help with the 27th annual Joan Mann Special Sports Day Sept. 13. 

The event, at Hangar 711, will provide games, fun and entertainment for more than 250 special-needs people from around East Anglia. Volunteers are also welcomed from RAFs Lakenheath, Feltwell, Molesworth, Alconbury and Fairford. 

About 40 volunteers are needed to help with parking, 20 for set-up and tear-down, 60 to be in charge of the games, 30 food servers, and the remaining 650-plus to act as escorts for the participants. 

Athletes will start arriving at 8 a.m. and events run from 8:30 a.m. to about 5 p.m. The day starts with a traditional Olympic-style ceremony and parade of athletes. Sporting events begin after wing leadership's opening remarks, followed by lunch and awards presentations. 

"Some of the participating groups will have to start out at 5 a.m. to get here in time for the opening ceremony, but they'll be counting the days until that special Saturday," said Tech. Sgt. Jamie Prince, 100th Logistics Readiness Squadron and volunteer coordinator for JMSSD. "Many of them literally cross each day off their calendar all year long, until the next sports day arrives. 

"This day is dedicated entirely to their enjoyment, and the JMSSD committee has been working for months to prepare for it - what is still needed, however, is the help of caring people," he said. 

Competitions include bowling, basketball shoot, tennis ball bounce, frisbee toss, football kick and wheelchair slalom. 

All special athletes participating will receive a medal, whether they win an event or not. They will also receive a commemorative T-shirt. 

The event started 27 years ago, when Joan Mann, a former Ministry of Defence civilian, decided to put together an event for special-needs people of all ages. The purpose of the event was to bring local British and American communities closer together and the Top 3 Fellowship has funded the event since it began. 

All volunteers are asked to show up in a plain black T-shirt. 

Editor's note: For more information, call Tech. Sgt. Jamie Price at DSN 238-4188, or Tech. Sgt. Thomas Britton at DSN 238-7388.