RAF Mildenhall holds 33rd annual JMSSD

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Christine Griffiths
  • 100th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
RAF MILDENHALL, England --  RAF Mildenhall hosted the 33rd annual Joan Mann Special Sports Day Sept. 27, 2014, on RAF Mildenhall.

The JMSSD is an event dedicated to special-needs adults and children from around England. It began 33 years ago when Joan Mann, a Ministry of Defence employee who worked in the public affairs office on RAF Mildenhall, wanted to find a way to bring local community and military members together to work with special-needs citizens.

There were more than 500 volunteers from RAF Mildenhall, RAF Feltwell and RAF Lakenheath who helped make the event a success for more than 250 athletes, from 22 organizations who participated in the event.

"I would do this again, just because getting to know people like Luke (a special-needs athlete) has been fun and helping them out during the events has been a blast. It was just a good time," said Senior Airman Paul Granja, 48th Medical Operations Squadron Emergency Room medical technician from Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.

Events included a basketball shoot-out, an obstacle course, bowling and a 50-yard wheel chair dash.

The day concluded with a medal ceremony. Leadership from both RAF Mildenhall, RAF Lakenheath and the local community presented awards to the participants.

Overall, the JMSSD has been a major volunteer event for both bases and has brought the local community and U.S. military members together for the past 33 years.

"Without (the U.S. Air Force) we couldn't have put on an event like this," said Gerri Bird, Mayor of Cambridge. "I think all the American bases (and military) are fantastic by giving their time to have us come here and watch all of this."