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Athletes threw softballs for distance, raced on the track and competed in the long jump at the annual Special Olympics event held at Mounument Mountain on Wednesday.
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Berkshire County law enforcement officers lead the annual parade of banners during Wednesday's opening ceremony.
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Some athletes got a helping hand from their coaches as they competed at the Berkshire County Special Olympics.

Celebration, Struggle at the Special Olympics

By Stephen DravisiBerkshires Staff
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The games were dedicated to longtime volunteer Nancy Forget. 
GREAT BARRINGTON, Mass. — For the principal of W.E.B. Du Bois Regional Middle School, the Berkshire County Special Olympics held each spring at neighboring Monument Mountain Regional High School complement his school's mission.
 
"What I really love about the Special Olympics is what I also love about W.E.B. Du Bois, the namesake of our middle school," Ben Doren said during Wednesday morning's opening ceremonies.
 
"W.E.B. Du Bois saw a vision, over a hundred years ago, of people together, working hard, struggling through adversity but also struggling to build a better community for the future."
 
Echoing the Special Olympics athlete oath, "Let me win. But if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt," both Doren and Monument Mountain Principal Kristina Farina praised the athletes and their supporters for the brave work of building a more inclusive world.
 
And, as a bonus, they got to have some fun doing it.
 
Smiles and hugs were plentiful on Wednesday as hundreds of athletes from across the county ran, threw and jumped for personal bests, for medals and for the satisfaction of putting themselves to the test.
 
As in any competition, some athletes ended up at the top of the podium. But all were champions.
 
Before delivering the high school's land acknowledgement, Farina thanked the athletes, families and volunteers for gracing the South County campus.
 
"Today, we come together to break down barriers and fight against stigmas," Farina said. "As Muhammed Ali once said, 'Champions are made from something deep inside them: A desire, a dream, a vision.'
 
"So, today, I hope that all our athletes inspire us to this vision, and that they aspire to that ideal."
 
Following the traditional parade of athletes, the opening ceremony included the presentation of several awards to athletes and supporters.
 
George Wallace received the Keith C. White Memorial Award, "For striving to achieve goals in life, working to overcome obstacles and aiming to become the best that he can be."
 
Nya Chaffee took home the Daniel Holian Memorial Award, "For your unwavering perseverance, determination and good attitude, demonstrated here at the Special Olympics as well as each and every day."
 
Keri Wade was given the Ellen C. and Sheilah M. Graham Memorial Award, "For her unwavering commitment, strength, kindness, compassion and dedication to service in the area of special needs and challenges."
 
The games, which were postponed due to rain from their scheduled date on May 3, were dedicated to Nancy Forget, a special educator for 30 years who continues to volunteer at the games.
 
"It is without a doubt she has made a lasting impact doing something she finds so much joy in: supporting others to be the best they can be," read the plaque recognizing the Forget.
 
After the awards were given out, it was time to get back to the serious business of fun.
 
"This is a celebration," Doren said. "We get to celebrate some of our most amazing students and most amazing athletes. It's great to see them here. It's great to see them compete and share the values that are so important.
 
"This is a day to celebrate."
 
Photos from this event here.

Tags: Special Olympics,   youth sports,   

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Q&A: Third Berkshires' Leigh Davis Talks Path Forward

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff

Leigh Davis
GREAT BARRINGTON, Mass.— South Berkshire voters cast their ballots on Tuesday to chose Leigh Davis as the new Third Berkshire District state representative.
 
After a long night that went into very early Wednesday morning, Davis sat with us to reflect on her campaign and foreshadow her next journey on Beacon Hill. 
 
"I am feeling incredibly excited and incredibly pumped to begin this new role, and I couldn't have done it without my team of supporters. I'm ready to hit the ground running and get to work," Davis said after a victory party that didn't end till a little past midnight when the unofficial results from Lenox came in. 
 
The district consists of the Southern Berkshire communities of Alford, Becket, Dalton, Egremont, Great Barrington, Lee, Lenox, Monterey, Mount Washington, New Marlborough, Otis, Richmond, Sandisfield, Sheffield, Stockbridge, Tyringham, Washington, and West Stockbridge.
 
Davis won the seat after an eight-month campaign, leading her opponent, Marybeth Mitts, by 12,603 votes to 9,480 as the clock struck midnight.
 
Alford, Monterey, Washington and Sandisfield had not reported their results by the time the festivities concluded but are too small to make a difference in the outcome. The final tally was 13,699 to 10,127.
 
Prior to the election results, Davis was the communications and community engagement director for Construct, the largest affordable housing nonprofit in Southern Berkshire. 
 
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