Lewisville ISD Special Olympics and Christian Community Action host first Medfest in Texas

Fourteen athletes from three local delegations were the first to receive   comprehensive sports medical exams at Medfest, one of seven health screening initiatives that make up the Special Olympics Healthy Athletes program.

As with most sports organizations, a physical exam and clearance from a physician is required for any athlete wishing to participate in Special Olympics.  Because many people with intellectual disabilities often have trouble accessing medical care, Healthy Athletes was launched in 1997 to improve athletes’ ability to train and compete in Special Olympics.  Since then, 76,000 health professionals and health profession students have volunteered at Healthy Athlete events.  Although Special Olympics has conducted screenings for  close to three quarters of a million athletes world wide,  Saturday’s Medfest is the first Healthy Athletes event held in the state of Texas.

The idea of bringing Medfest to local Special Olympics athletes began with Wayne Krase and Barb Krase, local business owners and long time volunteers for the Lewisville ISD Special Olympic Texas Team.

The Krases brought their idea to Washington during Special Olympics Capital Hill day.  With a national directive in hand, they worked with Erika Corbell, Special Olympics Texas Director of Volunteer Services, who facilitated the planning, scheduling and logistics of the event on behalf of the state organization.   

Mr. Krase credits Scott Orr, President and CEO of Christian Community Action and his Health Services staff for welcoming Special Olympics with open arms and committing to provide facilities and support for this and potential future Medfest events.  Nurses and nursing students from Concorde Career Institute and CCA Adult Health Services assisted as Dr. Anuradhna Tavarekere, M.D. examined every athlete.

Jim Domer, head of the Lewisville ISD delegation to Special Olympics Texas summed up the event; “Once again, the Greater Lewisville community unites to support our athletes.  Hopefully, this is only the beginning of what can be accomplished with this kind of community involvement.”