The Madison County Special Olympics committee has put out a call for help from the community as it prepares to host more than 750 athletes for competition at Milton Frank Stadium in Huntsville on April 15.

The committee needs about 1,200 volunteers and at least $10,000 in donations to put on the track-and-field competition, which is the largest in the state.

This year has been a rebuilding year, if you will, for the committee that brings these events to fruition” said Joni Hass, chairwoman of the track and field events. “Unfortunately, the corporate sponsor for the past few years abruptly pulled out, taking resources and knowledge. “

Haas declined to name the sponsor, but BlueHalo posted on its X account that it had been the sponsor. The company had undergone a change of ownership over the past few years. It pulled out as sponsor three weeks before last years competition was scheduled to be held, which forced its cancellation.

But Haas said this year’s competition “will go on.”

Haas said the committee needed $6,400 to pay for the fencing for the events.

“We don’t have any money to pay for that,” she said. “Every athlete has to have a t-shirt so that they are recognized as participating. And that’s about $4,000. We need water. We can’t afford to buy any water.”

In terms of volunteers, she said each athlete needs two escorts to make sure the athlete makes it to their event on time, as well as being escorted to the restroom.

“Once they assume the job of escort, the athletes are not to leave their side,” Haas said. She said the committee had 250 escorts signed up, which leaves the committee about 1,200 short.

Volunteer duties may also include assisting in running one of the 15 events, helping unload and load the buses, helping with awards or anything to assist in making the games successful.

Opening ceremonies will start at 9:30 a.m. and will include a torch relay. Four athletes will participate in the relay, including three ice skaters who brought home two gold medals and one silver medal from the World Games. The fourth athlete was named Special Olympics athlete of the year in Alabama.

The athletes are from the three public school districts in Madison County, local private schools, home school students, from group homes and opportunity centers.

To sign up as a volunteer, visit the signup page here.

To make a donation, contact Kay Scott at (256) 651-8925 or [email protected].

The Madison County Special Olympics does not receive funding from the state or national organization.