Lynn Special Games turns 45

LYNN – Harrington School students Francesco Devito and Zachary Heaphy love running, playing and talking to firefighters, but, on Wednesday, they had only one thing on their minds: pony rides.The pair joined 300 other students participating in the 45th annual Lynn Special Games hosted in Lynn Vocational Technical Institute’s field house. The morning-long event featured games, including speed pitch, soccer shootout and golf putting as well as visits to the inflatable corn maze and “tin can alley” and – of course – pony rides.Teachers, Tech students, Lynn Rotary Club members and local public safety employees volunteered to supervise the games, organize the kids and hand out lunch and ice cream.”It’s pure fun. From a teacher’s perspective, we see kids who were in our classes,” said Harrington special education teacher Chris Fiorello.Rotary Club board of directors member Richard Cuffe said nearly half of the local organization’s members volunteered to help with the Special Games. Cuffe said the event emphasizes the Rotary’s motto of “service above self.””Those kids always have smiles,” Cuffe said.Associate Public Works Commissioner Lisa Nerich said the morning filled with running, jumping and laughing kids occupies a “special place in my heart.” Nerich served as director of the Lynn Special Needs Camp for 26 years and said the Special Games underscores the roles so many people play in helping special needs students.”It’s a once-a-year event that is very rewarding when you see the expressions on the kids’ faces,” she said.Boys and girls wearing light blue and orange T-shirts clapped and cheered at 9:25 a.m. Wednesday as 18 police officers in workout clothes ran into the Tech field house carrying Olympic-style torches. The officers, including Police Chief Kevin Coppinger, ran from the Washington Street police station to the school, passing Cobbett School students who waved and clapped as the officers headed down Lynn Common.Nadine Heaphy said her 8-year-old son functions independently in school and at home but needs consistent help focusing.”He’s very active and he looks forward to the games every year,” she said.Tech junior Ryan Johnston wants to follow his mother and uncle into an occupational therapy career, and he has volunteered at the games for three years to gain experience in working with children.”You can’t describe the feeling you get making these kids happy,” he said.