How one woman’s vision transformed lives globally
This week: A story of determination and inclusion
THE Impartial Reporter’s recent Community Awards night was a success on many levels. It showcased individuals and groups dedicated to helping the most needy achieve their full potential. The Olympic Games in Paris will dominate world news in a few weeks. The best of elite athletes will give their all to earn bronze, silver, or gold.
However, the Special Olympics will be even more inspiring. There, athletes have to overcome unimaginable obstacles.
How the games came about is an intriguing story. A member of the famous Kennedy family had the insight and courage to bring together thousands of special athletes worldwide. Here’s what happened.
Years ago, when the remains of this famous woman were brought to the church, her family gathered around her casket.
As they waited there, a 25-year-old special needs man, called Mike Rhodes, placed a card on the casket. It was one he had made.
When the family opened it, his barely legible writing read: “She taught us all to stand tall.”
What a magnificent legacy for any person to leave. The woman who lay in the coffin was Eunice Kennedy Shriver, perhaps the most compassionate member of the Kennedy Dynasty.
Years earlier, she bravely founded what became the Special Olympics – the games that, in turn, bring life, joy, dignity, and a chance to be different to millions of disadvantaged athletes, as we always see when the Special Olympics are held.
I never met Eunice Kennedy Shriver, but I have met other members of her legendary family.
I met her mother, Rose – a formidable lady who spent hours in prayer every day. She attended Mass each morning, and prayed the Stations of the Cross and Rosary afterwards.
She had nine children, all of whom made major contributions to the community in their various roles throughout the world.
I met Ted Kennedy more than once. He was an approachable man with a brilliant brain.
He intuitively knew the history of Ireland, and was one of the few American politicians I met who understood the complexities of Northern Ireland’s politics.
I also met and socialised with Eunice’s sister, Jean Kennedy Smith, who served as ambassador to Ireland.
During her term of office, she, too, quietly but effectively helped many good causes.
Eunice died as a result of a stroke at 88 years of age. In her life, she had many claims to fame.
She was a sister to President John F. Kennedy, and Senator Robert Kennedy. Both of them were assassinated, one in 1963 and the other in 1968.
Senator Robert took on the mafia and paid the price.
Eunice’s husband ran as a vicepresidential candidate, and her daughter, Maria Shriver, was one of the most famous TV personalities before she met and married Arnold Schwarzenegger, the actor and former Governor of California.
Yet Senator Ted Kennedy once said about his sister, Eunice: “If the test of a successful life is determined by what has helped humanity, then no other member of the Kennedy family has done more than Eunice.”
He said that Eunice understood better than any of the rest of the family what her parents had taught them: “Much is expected from those to whom much has been given.”
Time magazine said that she led a social revolution that eventually changed attitudes, laws, expectations, and opportunities for society’s most forgotten members. She founded the Special Olympics Games, which do so much to bring children with special needs to the
forefront of society.
Her sister, Rosemary, was a special needs person. Eunice was the middle of nine children and was closest in age to Rosemary.
They played together; they became very close. Rosemary eventually had to be committed to an institution after a brain operation went wrong.
But Eunice knew that swimming in the pool, playing games and allowing Rosemary to do the things that the rest of the family did made Rosemary a happy, fulfilled and valued person.
It ran contrary to the wisdom of the time, which said that the mentally disadvantaged should not be encouraged to exercise, because it would be too difficult.
In 1968, a few weeks after her brother, Bobby, had been assassinated, she organised and financed the first Special Olympics for special needs athletes.
It took place in Soldier Field, Chicago. There were 1,000 athletes from 26 states present.
When the games came to Ireland in 2003, 6,500 athletes from 150 countries participated.
Eunice’s vision for the Special Olympics extended beyond the United States. She took the Games to China – a country with a history of intolerance toward those with mental disabilities.
Under her influence, the Chinese government welcomed 7,000 athletes and their families from 160 countries.
Today, under the umbrella of the worldwide organisation, the Special Olympics continues to support more than two million special needs individuals.
The Shriver family aptly summarised Eunice’s impact, saying: “She set out to change the world and to change her children. She did both.
“She taught us by example what it means to live a faith-driven life of love and service to others.”
Authentic spirituality makes the love of God present in others’ lives.
To finish off, I want to tell you my favourite story from the Special Olympics.
At the Seattle Special Olympics, nine contestants, all physically or mentally disadvantaged, assembled at the starting line of a 100-yard contest.
At the gun, they all started out, not exactly in a dash, but with enthusiasm to run the race to the best of their ability and hopefully win – all except one little boy, who stumbled on the track, tumbled over a few times, and began to cry.
When the other eight heard the boy scream, they slowed to discover what had happened. Then they all turned around and went back – each and every one of them.
One little girl with Down’s syndrome bent down and kissed him, saying: “This will make you better.”
Then, all nine linked arms and walked to the finishing line; they crossed the line together – each one a winner.
The one thing that should matter in life is helping others win, even if it means changing course ourselves.