Students run the game ball from Farmville to Ashland prior to Saturday’s Game

RICHMOND, Va. --- It’s a match of rivals: this Saturday, Nov. 12, Hampden-Sydney College will face off against Randolph-Macon College in one of the South’s oldest rivalry football games, appropriately called “The Game.” This year, however, both schools are also joining forces for a Miles for Medals fundraising run that will take Saturday’s game football on a journey from Farmville to Ashland. All proceeds from the run benefit Special Olympics Virginia.

Student-athletes from Hampden-Sydney will set out on a run with the game football in hand Wednesday, Nov. 9, at 2 p.m. They’ll run through the town of Farmville, up Routes 45 and 60, through Prince Edward and Cumberland counties and end at the intersection of Route 522 in Powhatan at approximately 5:30 p.m. At that time, mascots from both schools will be on hand for a photo opportunity as they ceremoniously pass the football from one school to the other.

The run will continue the following day with student-athletes from Randolph-Macon taking over. The runners will travel up Route 522 before continuing on a number of back roads and ending at Randolph-Macon’s Day Field at approximately 5:30 pm. The run will culminate prior to the football game Saturday, Nov. 2, when Special Olympics athletes from Farmville and Ashland will walk onto the field to present the game ball to the officials.

The Miles for Medals run is part of the Old Dominion Athletic Conference’s partnership with Special Olympics Virginia. Escorting the runners during their run will be deputies from the Prince Edward County, Cumberland County, and Hanover County sheriff’s offices.

For more information, please contact Josh Walker at 434-249-7469 or jwalker@specialolympicsva.org.  For more information on Special Olympics Virginia, visit www.specialolympicsva.org.  

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Special Olympics is a year-round international program of sports training and athletic competition for children and adults with intellectual disabilities, giving them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy and participate in the sharing of gifts, skills and friendship with their families, other Special Olympics athletes and the community.  By using sport as a vehicle for social change, Special Olympics Virginia strives to create opportunities for meaningful interaction and self discovery for everyone.  The organization’s goal is to open the heart and mind of every Virginian to the value and ability of persons with intellectual disabilities.  Special Olympics Virginia Inc. is the state program of Special Olympics Incorporated.

This release is courtesy of the Special Olympics Virginia office.