Music, food, a silent auction and games were highlights of Friday evening’s fundraising event benefiting local Special Olympics games and athletes.

The event, hosted by Beaufort/Hyde Special Olympics, was held at the Transitions Auditorium on the campus of the former Washington High School.

“We want to make this an annual event, bigger and better every year,” said Benish of the inaugural festival. Proceeds help fund the local games as well as support athletes as they compete on the state level.

“We have a ski team that goes to Blowing Rock in January, our spring games are in April and we have summer games in June,” Benish said.

A special guest was Roger Johnson, a Special Olympics global messenger and athlete from Greensboro who competes in the Guilford/High Point games. Johnson was in Washington to spread the message of the importance of Special Olympics and how the organization has enriched his life.

“The thing about Special Olympics is it gives us something that we don’t have to change to do … we are who we are,” said Johnson, who was born with cerebral palsy and who began competing in local Special Olympics games when he was just 8 years old. “We are the norm in our tournaments, in our competitions. We are like a community … we’re all different, but we’re all the same, too.”

Johnson said he hopes to raise awareness of the games and of the athletes who participate. Nearly 40,000 athletes take part in Special Olympics games across North Carolina each year, he said.

“God gives us our disabilities for a reason,” said Johnson, an athletic council member, speaker and state championship golfer. “We may not know why, but He does. He made us what we are. Special Olympics has given me more confidence to step out into the public eye.”

Benish’s passion for Special Olympics and its athletes led her to become involved in the local chapter, organizing games and planning fundraising projects like Friday’s celebration, which was built around the SO “Be Brave” theme.

“There can be a stigma about people with special needs and intellectual disabilities,” Benish said. “But if we look at ourselves there is something we’re not good at, there is always something each of us can’t do. I’ve learned how big their hearts are. They are genuine, caring people … they love and they want to be loved.”

Live musical entertainment was provided by T.J. Jones and the Pamlico Sound Machine, Silver Creek and Side Project, with Greg Lassiter serving as emcee. Activities included face painting, raffle, corn hole tournament and a dunking booth. During the latter, Deputy Kelly Cox and Cpl. William Boyd of the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Department braved the chilly waters as folks lined up to dunk them for a good cause.

According to Benish, sponsors supporting the fundraising effort included F. Ray Moore, Washington Jewelers, Sears, Pizza Inn, Domino’s, Little Caesar’s, Lowe’s, Park Boat Company, Frank’s Jewelers, The Blue Crab, The Meeting Place, the Sunshine Factory and River Trace Nursing and Rehabilitation.

Area residents interested in becoming involved in Beaufort/Hyde Special Olympics as athletes, volunteers or sponsors are encouraged to contact Benish at 252-945-7344 or twins2jandj@yahoo.com.