Barbara Hedden, of Cheshire, will be honored at the Special Olympics Connecticut Hall of Fame Dinner - Celebrating 45 Years of Memories on Wednesday, March 20th at the Aqua Turf Country Club, Plantsville. The annual Hall of Fame event honors extraordinary athletes, volunteers and supporters who demonstrate leadership, spirit and selflessness, inspire joy through sport and promote inclusion and respect for individuals of all abilities. Tickets, which must be reserved in advance, are $25.00 per person and may be obtained by calling 203-230-1201, ext. 276 or emailing kellib@soct.org. The event is hosted and made possible through the generosity of the Bozzuto and Calvanese families. Registration will begin at 5 p.m.; the program at 6 p.m.
Barbara Hedden will receive the Lew Perkins Coach Award which is given to an individual coach who has made a significant impact on Special Olympics athletes in the areas of training and promoting physical fitness.
Hedden coaches the Special Olympics Unified Long Distance Running team and runs the Cheshire Unified Sports® school-based program. She has volunteered at regional, state, national and international Special Olympics games since 1998.
Hedden is recognized by athletes, Unified Partners, parents and family members of those on her team as a dedicated, well-organized and very caring coach who always welcomes new athletes to the program with open arms and possesses the ability to motivate athletes to excel.
Her example has inspired her entire family to get involved in Special Olympics. Her son, Bobby, participates as an athlete and her daughter and another son as Unified Partners. Not one to coach from the side lines, Hedden actively participates in the practices she organizes and runs alongside team members in races throughout the season.
Special Olympics Connecticut – Celebrating 45 Years
Special Olympics Connecticut provides year-round sports training and competitions for close to 15,000 athletes of all ages with intellectual disabilities and Unified Sports® partners - their teammates without disabilities.
Through the joy of sport, the Special Olympics movement transforms lives and communities throughout the state and in 170 countries around the world by inspiring inclusion and respect for all people, on and off the playing field. (www.soct.org)
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