ROCKINGHAM — Nearly 100 athletes competed at Raider Stadium on Tuesday in the Richmond County Special Olympics spring games.
The 97 students from across the district were each paired with a student from Richmond Senior High School as they tested their abilities in three events: ball toss; standing long jump; and the run/walk/wheelchair race on the track.
The students hailed from Richmond Senior, the Ninth Grade Academy, Fairview Heights, Washington Street, West Rockingham and Monroe Avenue elementaries, and three of the four middle schools, according to Stephanie Upton.
This is the first time the games have been held since 2019, as concerns with the COVID pandemic canceled the previous three years.
Prior to the games, Upton was presented a check for $7,530.
That money was raised from the annual motorcycle ride at the Hide-A-Way Tavern, started by the late Buddy Roebuck in 2009. The ride raised nearly $30,000 in 2019, 2021 and 2022 combined.
This year’s ride, held May 6, was in memory of the late Chris Sachs, who kept the tradition going after he and wife Felicia purchased Roebuck’s old bar.
Click here to read about and see photos from the ride.
The Rockingham police and fire departments volunteered to help provide and serve the hot dog lunch after the games.
See more photos below.
