Friday February 7th was the date that the Tim Tebow Foundation teamed up with Churches around the globe 🌎 to host the annual event known as A Night to Shine.
Here is a brief summary for those not familiar with the Gala..
Tim Tebow Foundation started the Night to Shine event in 2015 to celebrate those with special needs and give dignity to people who are often overlooked. Since then, the event has occurred every year, celebrating over 100,000 people annually.
The event has entered into its second decade now and as the statement says, it’s designed for people with Special Needs to have the equivalent of a Senior Prom. Having had the privilege of working with one of the events I can tell you that it hits the mark.
Just nine days later the focus shifts from inclusion through a formal dance to inclusion through the universal game of Basketball. The folks at Virginia Tech University have been hosting this event for going on 40 years now.
The day long adventure begins in Hillsville where the School Bus is loaded up with Volunteers, Athletes and Partners plus enough snacks and drinks to last for the day. This process officially started at 7am for most but began for Coach Ritchie well before in regards to planning and the gathering of supplies.
The Bus then sets out for the trek up to the Land of Hokies for a day of fun, inclusion and physical activities. The one part of the day that Ritchie doesn’t have to do is the planning of the events throughout the day as that part falls on the people that run the Special Olympics and the ever so gracious leaders of Virginia Tech.
Section 113 was the home away from home for the group which included two full teams and one younger player who was participating in a separate age bracket. Our teams were named the Cavaliers and the Sure Shots. Both teams would play two games and participate in the Opening Ceremony which included a torch lighting that left a few teary-eyed people inside of Cassell Coliseum.
To tell the story correctly we actually have to add a third Big Date to the oh so special month of February. Back on Sunday February 2nd Coach Ritchie hosted her annual Basketball Classic which is designed to be a dress rehearsal for the trip to Blacksburg.
After safely arriving on Campus, courtesy of long time Bus driver Mr. Roger Burcham, the group set up shop in their designated portion of the Gymnasium.
The Cavaliers played their first game at 10am in a adjacent Gym and then it was back to the Cassell for the planned 11am Lunch. The historic building that is Cassell, had hosted the annual University of Virginia at Virginia Tech game just hours before prepping for the event.
After the Sub (provided by Subway) sandwich🥪 and healthy goodies were consumed and disposed of, it was time for the Sure Shots to play their initial game over in the same gym. The Noon tip included a rookie Assistant Coach alongside Coach Ritchie as an illness within the tight knit group that is more like an extended family, triggered a last minute change of plans.
Immediately after the high energy 19-18 contest concluded everyone was going back across the walkway as it was now time for the VT Women to hold their practice. That is part of the story only in that it shows the level of commitment from the Hokies on all fronts.
With both teams halfway through in regards to games played, it was time for the Opening Ceremony. From start to finish the day sparkled, the level of Class on display in recreating the identical feel of the actual Olympics. Virginia Tech even had their highly regarded Band, the Highty Tighties, there in full gear to add to the moment.
Carroll County was fortunate enough to have four team members involved with the Ceremony, including one in the Torch portion of the Ceremony. Kudos to both the Special Olympics organizers and everyone involved with VT as they teamed up to host an event that came from the Heart ❤.
After the ceremony was complete it was time to get back to playing Hoops. The challenge this time came in that both teams were scheduled to tip at 3pm. The Cavaliers were ready to play in the Coliseum and the Sure Shots headed over to a third location.
It’s time to acknowledge the four people that played the role of Partner. Dr David McPherson and Jason Burnette were there every step of the way with the Cavaliers while Zeke Hicks and D.J Delp were on the court from start to finish with the Sure Shots.
The role of Partner is as important as it gets and Carroll County is blessed with a very special quartet. The games are played with three Athletes and the two Partners. The Partners are there to act as governors of the game in ways that it would be hard to explain.
The final score of the Sure Shots ended in a perfectly coordinated 26-26 tie that could be used as an example for what the goal of these games are designed to accomplish. This happened because of the Grace of Mr. Hicks, a young man that Coach Ritchie describes as a young man that has been soaking in her thought process since the first day he showed up in her gym.
” I think I would characterize it along the lines that Zeke joined our program as a very young boy, and he tried to internalize our values and goals and help his teammates reach their full potential by always asking why we do what we do, and really listening to the answers,” said Ritchie.
Coach Vickey went on to add a few thoughts to those about Mr. Hicks.
” I’m fond of saying we simply “could not do what we do” without all the help from family members and members of our community. Each time we meet for any reason, amazing participation by these folks ensures that all of our Carroll County Special Olympics athletes will have FUN. Sometimes people who never played sports find themselves keeping scorebooks and running scoreboards, all because they are willing to learn. The most common refrain I hear at any of our activities, from Little Feet to Boo Ridge to our CCSO/Pet Partners Christmas Dance, is “How can I help?” The great part is they MEAN it. I could never name all the people who touch our program without leaving someone out, and they are not looking for thanks anyway! But we see you. We. See. You. We see you helping, and we see you hoping for our success. I measure that success not by our wins and losses at the VT Tournament, but by how well we represent Carroll County there. Our unified partners—-and so MANY of you have been unified partners for us over the years—do such a GREAT job of modeling sportsmanship and team play. Our coaches—-and so MANY of you have been coaches for us over the years—-do such a GREAT job of making each player on the rosters feel important and valued. Our scrimmage opponents——and so MANY of you (law enforcement officers and lots of groups from our community) have been scrimmage opponents for us over the years—-do such a GREAT job of helping each player get prepared to walk out confidently on those courts. Our athletes themselves ROCK the Cassell, Hahn Hurst, and McComas every year by playing with all their might! So whether you contribute financially, put in a good word for us at meetings, provide us with venues and facilities, make sure we know about opportunities, encourage our team members when you run into them out and about, show up when I need help, or just keep us in your prayers, please know this: We. See. You.
I’d also like to say that I am so proud of everyone that came with us to Virginia Tech. The Cavaliers faced two of the best teams we’ve ever faced this year at VT. We came away with a win and a loss, but we left it all out on the court and played so well!! SureShots came away with a win and a tie, refusing to give up in the first game and making parents smile on both teams during the second one; thank you Jerry and Linda Carter for revamping your whole day so Jerry could fill in at coach.
As a parting comment, I’d like to say thank you to Jerry for announcing so many of our scrimmages this season, and to each and every one of you that attended the classic and cheered and clapped, and got us ready for the noise at VT. That made all the difference in the world!,” added Ritchie.
Ribbons were awarded to all the participants and all involved left with a smile as they reboarded the School Bus for the ride back to The Hill. The amount of people that gave of themselves to make the Carroll County Special Olympics Athletes feel Special is a long list and the best part of Vickey Ritchie is that she is busy trying to say Thank You to everyone of them.
February 2nd, February 7th (attending only) and February 16th are just three of the reasons why OneofUs.Care is set to honor Coach Ritchie for all she does in the Community.
How this story will move forward is now both Allen Worrell and Vickey Ritchie will put their touches on the story before it goes truly public.
The first reason is that this story belongs to Vickey Ritchie and instead of me guessing at what she wants added to it and then Allen Worrell will clean up my verbiage that needs to be helped.
Edit Note – 📝
It was an absolute Blessing to be along for the journey 🙏
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First set of notes 📝 :
One younger player who (was) participating ✔✅
torch lighting—-add an “l” to make it Cassell ✔
After safely arriving…courtesy…Mr. Roger Burcham ✔
Can we say Subway sandwiches ✔
(Every year they do such a good job making them)
tight knit (you have nit) ✔
from start to finish….this is a great sentence but it’s missing a verb of some kind ✔✅
MOST importantly those are the Highty Tighties (not Tighty Whities). Allen may have to check the spelling of Highty Tighties. ✔
A.S.P.N on The Hill 