Special Olympics Games brings NCO closer to home

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Maeson Elleman
  • 18th Wing Public Affairs
KADENA AIR BASE, Japan --  Among the more than 2,500 volunteers aiding the Kadena Special Olympics this year, one servicemember from Kadena's 18th Wing Logistic Readiness Squadron said it means more to her than just volunteer work.

The eight-year Special Olympics veteran said she began volunteering because it reminds her of her godchild, Solange Tiburcio, who has lived with severe Autism her whole life.

"Because she's my cousin and also my godchild, she needs a lot from me, and I love her to death," Sergeant Santana added. "She's a very special girl, and she's very near to my heart. I wish she could know what my feelings for her are."

Sergeant Santana was paired up with an Okinawan athlete, Tsuyoshi Urasaki, who competed in the 50-meter dash and basketball.

"To me, it seems like Tsuyoshi has a lot of fun at the Kadena Special Olympics," said Naoaki Urasaki, the athlete's father. "He doesn't seem to have the same smile when he's at home. We're glad that he's able to participate in an event supported by so many American volunteers. We plan on coming back year after year."

Though this is only her third year working with Kadena's Special Olympics, Sergeant Santana said she also volunteered while stationed in Ramstein Air Base, Germany.

"It's the opportunity to work with the locals," said Tech. Sgt. Elizabeth Santana-Liranzo. "Even though there's usually a language barrier, on that day, there is no language barrier, because it's just about working with the special needs people and making them happy."

The NCO still remembers one child who stood out throughout the years.

"There was this little girl in Germany who was almost paraplegic," she recounted. "She was constantly smiling, even though she couldn't do many of the sports. She was happy just being there."

The volunteer hugger enjoys working with the special needs athletes because she loves how happy it makes them to participate.

"You see the 'happy smile' when they accomplish something, and they put in 100 percent whether they can do it or not," she added. "It's not only rewarding for the athletes, it's rewarding for you. It's an awesome experience because you can see they want to do it - you see the joy on their faces at the beginning, middle and end."

Overall, Sergeant Santana said it's inspiring to see the athletes with disabilities and handicaps overcome their difficulties, and it causes her to push herself harder.

"The day you wake up and think you cannot do it, think about those who have disabilities that get up every day and still do it," she added.