It is the end of another year for athletes from Battery Creek and Beaufort Middle School who work with Special Olympics athletes in the National Project Unify program. This program places able bodied athletes with Special Olympics athletes to learn about a particular sport and the collaboration between Dataw, Battery Creek and Beaufort Middle School is currently the only program that provides tennis for these players.

For over ten years, a handful of Dataw Island residents and local supporters have sponsored Northern Beaufort County Special Olympics tennis. This weekly coaching allows a large number of Special Olympic athletes to compete with confidence at the Special Olympics.

“Dataw Island has been fortunate to host Battery Creek and Beaufort Middle for the past two years,” Warren Florence, Dataw Island Tennis Director said. “We look forward to continuing that relationship and seeing all of these students again in the fall.”

“I just love this program and we are so happy to be able to give back to the community and help these students play tennis and just have a good time,” said Laura Bricker, a Dataw Island resident and volunteer.

Program Unify will begin again when school resumes this fall and students will be playing tennis and learning valuable skills at Dataw Island every Wednesday throughout the fall and the spring.

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