Enthusiasm wins in Autumn Games at CVTC
Chet White/The News & Advance
Eastern State Hospital resident Mary Rose Glaubke (left) competes in the bean bag toss during Thursday’s 29th annual Autumn Games at Lynchburg College’s Wakefield House. Five state mental health care facilities took part in the games that included events like the softball throw, T-ball, bean bag toss and basketball.
Athletes from five of Virginia’s mental health facilities gathered in Lynchburg on Thursday for an Autumn Games competition that blended sports, spirit and, judging from the cheers, lots of enthusiasm.
This year was the Central Virginia Training Center’s turn to host the 29th annual games, which were held at Lynchburg College.
About 80 student volunteers helped run the events, which included a baton-passing relay walk, softball throw and half a dozen other contests.
About 50 residents participated, from five Virginia facilities: CVTC, Eastern State Hospital in Williamsburg, Piedmont Geriatric Hospital in Burkeville, Southside Virginia Training Center in Petersburg, and Western State Hospital in Staunton.
Eight of the athletes were CVTC residents.
Kevin Brueilly, founding chairman of Lynchburg College’s new program to offer doctoral degrees in physical therapy, greeted the athletes and advised them to take care of their muscles through warmups and stretches.
Some of the events involved strength, such as the softball throw, where distance mattered.
Others required coordination, such as T-ball, basketball and bowling.
About 60 staff members from the institutions accompanied the athletes, and their presence may have been a key element behind the cheers that accompanied every athlete’s endeavor and resounded through the Lynchburg College field house.
Trophies and ribbons awaited participants at the end of the day.
Judy Goding, a program director at CVTC and the games’ coordinator, said the most-coveted trophy would go to the team with the highest examples of spirit and sportsmanship.
The games focused on individuals older than 55 and were intended to promote active lifestyles, sportsmanship and pursuit of athletic endeavors.
Advertisement