Members of the TCU community packed the Schollmaier Arena on March 31st to support the Special Olympics Club at TCU basketball team.
The basketball game was a fundraising event for the team to attend the 2022 Special Olympics USA Games this June in Orlando, Florida.
Special Olympics Texas suggested that the club apply for the games. After submitting a video of the team scrimmaging against each other, they were selected to attend.
Beta Theta Pi and Delta Gamma worked together to help raise over $7,500 and draw over 200 people to attend the game.
The team is composed of four partners from Beta Theta Pi, six special needs athletes and two coaches.
The TCU men’s and women’s basketball teams as well as TCU Elite Dance came to support the team and its goal of spreading awareness for inclusion on campus.
But the team couldn’t have gotten where it is today without the support of family, friends and the TCU community.
“It’s just amazing that TCU has embraced us and really made everyone feel welcomed,” said Thomas Lecy, a junior finance major and founder of the program.
Lecy started the initiative in 2019 after being impacted by a similar program throughout high school.
“All of the support has been insane,” said Lecy. “People with and without disabilities are a lot more alike than we are different. We all want to feel included and feel loved and supported, and that’s what we try to do every day.”
Lecy has gained much from being a part of the team. As the students inspire the athletes, the athletes also inspire them.
“We all deserve to feel loved and respected for who we are deep down,” Lecy said.
Team member and supply chain major Will Schoen, inspired by his younger brother with special needs, wanted to become more involved with similar members of the Fort Worth community. Unified games presented the perfect opportunity.
“This is an experience that they will remember for the rest of their lives,” Schoen said.
