Special Olympics brings smiles, winners to Bluffton

More than 250 athletes from Hilton Head, Bluffton, Beaufort and Jasper County competed in track and field events at the Region 8 South Carolina Special Olympics Friday at Bluffton High School.

This was the first year for the event to be held at Bluffton High School.

Hundreds of volunteers, including more than 100 elementary and high school students, spent the day cheering on the athletes and helping the event go smoothly. Dozens of organizations, schools, police and fire departments, and businesses from Beaufort and Jasper Counties helped make the event possible.

Kathy Cramer, director of SOAR Recreation, said the Special Olympic volunteers were just "fabulous."

"I feel like I could name hundreds of different groups and organizations helping out today," she said. "You can get the best volunteers out of Beaufort County, it's unbeleivable. People are so generous and kind and always willing to help out other people."

The kids certainly enjoyed it, too.

Jacob Newton, of Okatie, was smiling ear to ear after he won first place in the first race of the day. A large group of friends swarmed him on the field afterwards to say congratulations.

"I feel good," Jacob said, with a big smile.

This story was originally published April 22, 2016 at 6:30 PM with the headline "Special Olympics brings smiles, winners to Bluffton."