Sunshine Games Bring Joy To Special Needs Children

WORCESTER, Pa. (CBS) - Today was a very special day for about 150 physically and developmentally disabled children at the Variety Club Camp and Development Center in Montgomery County.

Each year for the past twelve, the camp sets aside one day during the summer for the annual Annie Madden Sunshine Games. Named for a former camp counselor who tragically lost her life in a car accident as a teenager more than a decade ago.

Camp director Angus Murray says the camp is transformed into a Special Olympics-type setting for relay races, obstacle courses, water games and more, "We do our normal activities, but we really go all out this day. You know, we spend a lot of time putting the activities together, (we put a lot of) thought into it and it's just a special day every year that I think everybody looks forward to."

Annie's dad Jim and mom Maryellen call it a connection to their late daughter, "To know that for the whole day there would be nothing but fun and enjoyment and to actually see that on the children's faces it gives me a lot of joy and a sense of satisfaction and fulfillment."

It's also a fundraising event with campers and staff gathering pledges from friends and family in an effort to raise money for new equipment and supplies for the camp.

Reported by Brad Segall, KYW Newsradio 1060