The annual golf tournament to benefit Special Olympics Area 7 will be held Saturday at Duncan Park Golf Course.

This tournament is our annual event that benefits Mississippi Special Olympics Area 7 sporting events and activities. One of the best and most enjoyable parts of this tournament is that the players have a chance to play golf with some of our Special Athletes.

If you have never played golf with a Special Athlete, you don’t know what you are missing. The generosity of local businesses and individuals in our area community is overwhelming to say the least. This year is really special because several of our Area 7 athletes have qualified to attend and will be competing in the National Special Olympics Games in Princeton, N.J., June 14-21.

We are very proud of these athletes. With your continued support, they will have the opportunity to attend this once-in-a-lifetime event. Funds raised from Saturday’s tournament will help with expenses for our athletes.

There are over 16,000 special athletes registered in Mississippi, and each area is responsible for raising funds to support their area. This tournament makes all our sporting events possible.

On the weekend of May 9-11, we will be going to Biloxi at Keesler Air Force Base for the annual summer games. Area 7 usually takes 60 to 70 Athletes. Also, the annual Torch Run for Special Olympics will be held at the Gazebo on the Natchez Bluff at 9 a.m. May 8, sponsored by the Adams County Sheriff’s Office.

Please come out and cheer on the deputies as they run the torch through the streets of downtown Natchez on its way to Biloxi. Purchase a torch run T-shirt to help support this event. This is also a chance to meet some of our Special Olympics athletes and show support and encouragement.

Saturday’s golf tournament will be a 4-man scramble, and tee time is 8:30 a.m. Also you can support this tournament by sponsoring a T- hole for $100, sponsor an athlete to play for $75, donate door prizes or make a donation in support of this event.

Lunch, refreshments and plenty of door prizes, as well as a silent auction, will be available. One huge highlight of our tournament is the ball drop sponsored by the Adams County Sheriff’s Office for $3,000 cash and $500 for second-closest ball.

Plenty of tickets are still available at $20 each and are available from any of our committee members, or you can contact me for your ticket. Only 350 will be sold, so hurry before they are all gone.

All funds raised from the golf tournament stay local to provide programs for our athletes’ Special Olympic sporting events.

There are so many supporters that make this annual event a huge success. First and most important is our Special Olympics Area 7 Director Tommie Jones and the committee that helps with organizing and working very hard behind the scenes to make this tournament one of the best and most popular held in our area every year.

Most others are parents of our athletes and generous caring volunteers. Without their help and hard work, this tournament would not be possible.

Lunch will be provided by Adams County Sheriff’s Office and Concordia Parish Sheriff’s Office. Plenty of refreshments will be provided by local vendors who are so generous with their donations. Hole in one prizes are courtesy of Great River Honda, and sponsor signs are donated by Southern Signs.

Your financial support and generosity for this special event is appreciated. If you would like to help out, make your donation to: Special Olympics Area 7, and mail to: Ricky Warren, 108 Tanglewood Road, Natchez, MS 39120.

If you have any questions, you can call me at 601-597-4724. Our special athletes and their families thank you for your generosity and send you their unconditional love for allowing them the opportunity to participate in Special Olympics sporting events and activities.

Ricky Warren is cochairman of the golf tournament and a proud parent of a Special Olympics athlete.