FORT HOOD, Texas — Fort Hood's Phantom Warrior Lanes hosted the 33rd Special Olympics Heart of Texas Area 12 Bowling Tournament for students across Central Texas on Thursday.
Soldiers volunteered their time to encourage the special needs students as they competed in the tournament. One parent said this small gesture goes a long way.
"You don't have to have a child with special needs to support," Consuella Ross said. "Just being there helps them. It doesn't have to be their child. Just encouraging them, being there for them is all they need to make their day."
Fort Hood soldiers presented the students with medals. An event organizer said the focus of Thursday's event was on fun, not competition.
"This is something they look forward to every year," volunteer Thomas Jones said. "To come out to be athletes and to win an award that they can talk about for years and years to come."
Bizenski has been the Special Olympics Coach at Midway Independent School District for three years. She said it's important to include kids with disabilities in sports because they are just like any other kid.
"It's really exciting to come out here and watch because this is a life long sport for them," Bizenski said.
Special Olympics Texas provides students with year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic sports.