SECOND ANNUAL DELAWARE-TOWSON PIGSKIN PASS TO SUPPORT SPECIAL OLYMPICS SET FOR SATURDAY, SEPT. 22
University of Delaware and Towson
University student-athletes will take part in the second annual Pigskin
Pass next Satuday, Sept. 22, a 58-mile relay run from the 50-yard line
of Delaware Stadium at the University of Delaware to the 50-yard line
of Towson’s Johnny Unitas Stadium.
The special game ball
will be delivered prior to kick-off of the annual Towson-Delaware
Football game, which is slated for 7 p.m. The game will be televised
live on Comcast SportsNet throughout the Mid-Atlantic region.
Saturday
morning, Delaware student-athletes will run the ball half the distance
to Festival Park in Aberdeen, where they will be welcomed by Aberdeen
Mayor, S. Fred Simmons, and Towson University student-athletes, coaches
and administrators.
Following a brief ceremony,
Delaware’s Blue Hen mascot, YoUDee, will hand the ceremonial game ball
off to Towson’s Mascot, Doc, and the Towson student-athletes will run
the ball the rest of the way to Unitas Stadium. The students’ objective
in taking on this challenge is to raise money for each school’s
respective Special Olympics chapter
Once the Towson
University students reach the campus, everyone who participated in the
run that day is invited to join Special Olympics Athletes in a pre-game
celebration, and to run the final leg into Unitas Stadium prior to
kick-off. Officers from both Towson and Delaware’s Student-Athlete
Advisory Councils will present a check for the money they have raised
together for Special Olympics programs to Maryland and Delaware Chapter
representatives. Last year, close to $13,000 was raised between the two
rival schools.
Pigskin Pass runners are currently
seeking donations for the relay. Any business or individuals interested
in sponsoring a mile or supporting a runner with an amount of their
choosing can donate online at www.pigskinpass.com. Individual contributions over and above $58 ($1 per mile) are eligible for a commemorative T-shirt.
The
Pigskin Pass is a joint community service initiative sponsored by the
Student-Athlete Advisory Councils at both the University of Delaware
and Towson University. It is a visible example of athletes supporting
athletes.
The event would not be possible without the
assistance of their respective Special Olympics chapters and Law
Enforcement volunteers from Maryland and Delaware. The hope is that
this event will continue as a tradition and that each year, the
visiting school will initiate the relay from its stadium with the game
ball delivered by student athletes from the host institution prior to
kick-off.
The winner of the football game receives a
Pigskin Pass Trophy donated from the Special Olympics chapters. Towson
University won the game last year, 49-35, at Delaware Stadium.
Special
Olympics Delaware is an organization that changes lives by promoting
understanding, acceptance and inclusion between people with and without
intellectual disabilities. Through year-round sports training, athletic
competition and related programs conducted for more than 2,700 children
and adults with intellectual disabilities, the organization creates a
model community that celebrates people's diverse gifts. Special
Olympics Delaware builds sports skills, confidence, strength,
motivation and self-esteem - not just for athletes, but for everyone
involved.