Merrimack students volunteer at Special Olympics event

WATERVILLE VALLEY – Two Regional Services and Education Center Academy students from Merrimack volunteered their time and abundant energy at the 37th annual State Winter Games held by Special Olympics New Hampshire from March 3-5 at Waterville Valley. Volunteers supported teams while they competed in alpine skiing,  cross-country skiing, snowboarding and snowshoeing. William Desrochers and Joseph Marshall were tail runners at the alpine skiing and snowboarding events, and were responsible for keeping their group of athletes safely together and getting them to their races on time. The students were also instrumental in the success of the opening ceremonies, setting up signs and banners, and gathering the athletes for the parade. On Feb. 2, the academy sent a group to participate in the Special Olympics New Hampshire High School Plunge, where students raised just over $2,400 to support the New Hampshire athletes who represented Special Olympics Team USA at the World Winter Games in PyeongChang, South Korea.“It’s a wonderful experience for our students to witness firsthand why they participate in these fundraisers,” said Janet Reed, director of the academy.