The visitors’ stands of Mike Webster Stadium was near full after school one day last week, filled with cheering fans holding bright posters and waving pom-poms.
There was no official sporting event that day, May 5, but instead a very special group of athletes gathered to perform before the crowd.
As preparation for their regional event on Saturday, the Rhinelander Special Olympics team gathered for practice, and the ‘Fans in the Stands’ showed up to support.
Fans in the Stands is a worldwide volunteer movement to support Special Olympics competitors.
One group in particular came with a little extra support—the Kids for Kindness group, a collection of elementary and middle schoolers who have volunteered to participate in an ‘act of kindness’ once a month, showed up to support the Olympians with posters and gift-baskets.
Kids for Kindness began this year, and they have also volunteered at Ruby’s Pantry and Grace Lodge, among other projects.