City resident to compete in Special Olympics in Greece

Date: 3/1/2011

March 2, 2011

By Lori Szepelak

Correspondent

SPRINGFIELD — Janelle Evrard is "excited and proud" to be representing her city — and Massachusetts — at the upcoming 2011 Special Olympics World Summer Games in Greece.

The games will take place in Athens from June 25 to July 4, and Evrard will be among 300 Special Olympics athletes representing the United States. Evrard, who is 36, will be competing in the sport of bocce, along with another Special Olympic athlete from Lawrence.

Janelle has been honing her bocce skills at the Dante Club in West Springfield on Sundays with her dad, Alain. To also stay in shape, she has been exercising at the gym at least two hours a day.

"Bocce is a fun sport with a strategy," Janelle said during an interview on the afternoon of Feb. 25 with her parents. Evrard also showcased a sampling of her Special Olympics medals she has won over the years.

"She's a natural athlete," Alain said, adding, "She excels at all sports."

Caron echoed the sentiments of her husband.

"Her father and I are incredibly proud of her," Caron Evrard said. "She works really hard and strives to excel in every sport that she plays. She loves to win, but is very much a team player."

Soon Janelle will be heading to San Diego with all of the other Special Olympics athletes for a spring training session from March 27 to April 1. Local coaches will be traveling with the 300 young people and all will meet their World Summer Games coach, Ernie Christopher.

Mary Beth O'Neil is the local Special Olympics program coordinator and head coach for the Greater Springfield team. She coordinates and sets up practices for the team that has more than 175 athletes in a year-round sports program including bocce, track and field, volleyball, soccer and speed skating. Of course, O'Neil couldn't do it alone and praised the more than 30 volunteer coaches who help the athletes train and compete.

O'Neil is overseeing Janelle's training at the local level and will be with her when she meets Christopher at spring training.

"Janelle is a great bocce player and is learning different techniques for different courts," O'Neil said. "She already has shown significant improvement using the courts at the Dante Club, which are different surfaces and boards then she is used to. Janelle has the potential to do wonderful at the World Summer Games."

Upon Evrard's return, a special fund-raiser for Janelle is planned April 15 from 6 to 11:30 p.m. at the Dante Club on Memorial Avenue in West Springfield to help defray some of the costs of her trip to Greece. Lea and Sonny Fiega, neighbors and longtime friends of the Evrard family, are spearheading the fundraiser that is open to the public.

"As a resident of the city of Springfield, what an honor it is for our city to have one of our own going to the World Games," Lea said. "I can't imagine not supporting our hometown girl."

Sonny will serve as chef for the evening, and promises a delicious meal consisting of ziti with his homemade pasta sauce of sausage, peppers, and onions, as well as Blue Seal kielbasa, salad, rolls, and dessert. Lea Fiega added that macaroni and cheese will also be available since that is Janelle's favorite meal.

Lea is also coordinating logistics for the raffle prizes which will include restaurant gift certificates, a Healthtrax membership, and a Cape Cod weekend getaway. A 50/50 Raffle is also planned.

"Local businesses have been generous for this fundraiser," Alain said.

Businesses interested in making a donation to the fundraiser can contact either Lea or Caron Evrard.

Local disc jockey Ronnie Thibeault will donate his time spinning tunes during the fundraiser.

"We were reluctant at first to host the fundraiser but Lea and Sonny would not take no for an answer," Caron said. "If the fundraiser raises more than the costs involved, any additional monies will be donated back to the local Special Olympics chapter."

Tickets are $20 per person or $30 per couple. Children age 10 and younger will be admitted free.

For tickets or more information, contact Lea at 896-4258, or Caron at 782-5509. Lea is also available via e-mail at mailtolea@fscinsuranceagency.com, and Caron is available via e-mail at mailtocaronspfld@aol.com.

"She takes this honor of representing Massachusetts at the World Summer Games very seriously," Caron said. "As her parents, we are beaming with pride."

Alain, with his arms wrapped around his daughter, noted, "She lights up a room with her smile. We cannot wait to watch her participate."

Janelle, always smiling, had the last words of the interview.

"I want to be the best in the world," she said, adding, "I have put my faith in Jesus because he has been good to me."

Special Olympics is a non-profit organization that was officially founded in 1968, giving form to the vision of its founder, Eunice Kennedy-Shriver, sister of President John F. Kennedy, who believed that children and adults with intellectual disabilities should be able to explore their abilities in various sports activities.

Today, Special Olympics has evolved into a global movement that offers the opportunity to 3.1 million athletes with intellectual disabilities from 185 countries, to reinforce their self-esteem, to discover their special abilities, and become more active members of their societies.

More than 7,500 Special Olympics athletes, from all ability levels, will compete in more than 20 Olympic-type sports in Greece. The competition schedule includes aquatics, athletics, track and field, marathon, badminton, basketball, beach volleyball, bocce, bowling, and cycling. Also, equestrian, football, golf, gymnastics, judo, kayaking, power lifting, roller skating, sailing, softball, table tennis, handball, tennis and volleyball.

For more information, visit www.specialolympics.org







.