ROCKINGHAM - A welcoming and loving crowd of family and friends was on hand Saturday afternoon, July 14, at La Cabana Mexican Restaurant in Rockingham, for Kimberly Dawn Grooms, the one athlete that represented Richmond County in the 2018 Special Olympics USA Games the first week of July in Seattle, Washington.
The goal of the national competition was to “showcase the abilities of athletes with intellectual disabilities, promote the ideals of acceptance and inclusion through sport, and celebrate the transformative power of Special Olympics.”
More than 4,000 athletes and coaches from the 50 states and the District of Columbia were supported by tens of thousands of volunteers and spectators that travelled to northwestern corner of the US for this special week. Competition occurred in 14 Olympic–type team and individual sports.
Dawn returned with two gold medals for Bocce, singles and doubles. Her partner in women’s doubles was Stephanie Silver from Watauga County. In team competition, the North Carolina group placed sixth.
This was the first time that Dawn has competed at the national level, after local and state competitions, since high school. The opening ceremonies were televised on Sunday, July 1, and Dawn was visible as the North Carolina athletes, unified partners, and coaches entered the huge stadium in Seattle.
Beaming with pride, Dawn removed the beautiful gold medals from their navy blue boxes and hung them around her neck as guests arrived for her luncheon, which was also a birthday celebration. She also wore a large ocean-blue medal commemorating North Carolina’s 6th place finish in the team competition.
Family members in attendance included her parents, Kenneth and Helen Grooms; sisters Shannon Iacovone and Lyn Melton; nephew and nieces Logan Iacovone, Madi and River Melton; and family friends Linda Compton, Nicole Compton, and Gus Bellamy.
Dawn has a special relationship with VFW Post 4203, helping there as a volunteer for numerous activities over the years. Her friends from the VFW included Eddie Dean, Robin Roberts, Nadine Moss, and Johnny Patrick.
Dawn ordered her favorite dish-hot wings and French fries-and joked with her family about all of the people who turned out for her birthday, taking pictures and singing to her. She even wore the huge sombrero as the wait staff serenaded her. Dawn said she was looking forward to going to Myrtle Beach in August for a vacation, and to the next national Special Olympics competition which will be held in Orlando, Florida.
In recognition of her accomplishments at the 2018 Special Olympics USA Games, VFW Post 4203 is planning to have a special float for Dawn in the Veterans Day Parade in Rockingham on November 10. Along with the usual services at the VFW Memorial Park, luncheon, and parade, the Rockingham post has plans to make it an all-day event with bands on-site following the parade.
Special Olympics North Carolina has a great need for volunteers. You can serve through our local program here in Richmond County as a coach, an official, a unified athlete, youth leadership or a medical professional. There is a Facebook page for Richmond County Special Olympics, and Theressa Smith serves as the head coach.
As a former special educator and Special Olympics coach, I can assure you that any involvement with the Special Olympics athletes will be time well-spent, much appreciated, and memorable.
