ESPN Unified Challenge Community Division

On Friday, June 29th the members of the team Straight Off the Couch will be competing in the first-ever ESPN | Special Olympics Unified Sports Challenge. The team is comprised of Ben and Stephanie Carson, Andea Parmley, and Karina Dion. Athletes will compete in multiple Unified Sports challenges to demonstrate the power of inclusion, while raising funds for Special Olympics and the local Seattle community.

The Special Olympics has a special place in the hearts of the Straight Off the Couch Team. In March of 2018 Ben and Stephanie Carson’s nephew, Greyson, was born with Down Syndrome. He is a happy, healthy little guy, affectionately named Mr. Squirmy, and his family is excited to watch him grow and see the world through his eyes.

Stephanie’s cousin also has a 2-year-old daughter named Nevada with special needs. As an infant Nevada developed a seizure disorder which caused brain damage and vision impairment. She is learning to support herself with a walker and communicate. Nevada—or Vada—loves music and dancing with her older sister Gia, and ice cream!

The Straight Off the Couch team wants to demonstrate their support for the Special Olympics in honor of Greyson and Nevada so that they can grow up always feeling included and supported by their family, friends, and communities. The team is thrilled to see the 2018 Special Olympics Games come to Seattle and garner support and awareness from the community.

About ESPN | Special Olympics Unified Challenge - Community Division
Thank you for visiting the donation portal of the ESPN | Special Olympics Unified Challenge - Community Division. All funds donated through this site will contribute directly to the all-expenses-paid experience of the athletes attending the 2018 Special Olympics USA Games in Seattle. The 2018 USA Games, taking place July 1-6, will showcase the abilities of athletes with intellectual disabilities while promoting the ideals of acceptance and inclusion through sport. The ESPN | Special Olympics Unified Challenge - Community Division is an opportunity for Seattle community members to embody the ideals of the 2018 USA Games by actively promoting inclusion and building a stronger community.

If you are a member of a team already registered, please use the "Sign Up to Fundraise" button at the bottom of the page to set up your team's personal fundraising page. If you are visiting this site to donate to the 2018 Special Olympics USA Games, please select whether you would like to contribute generally or on behalf of a Unified Challenge team by selecting the appropriate item from the drop-down menu next to the "Continue to Donate" button. Thank you for supporting the 2018 Special Olympics USA Games."

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