The Guardian Games up at Reed High School, brought together local law enforcement, Special Olympics Nevada athletes and Nevada Donor Network for a morning of fun activities on Sunday morning.
"We have six different stations, and they're all fun, wacky games. We have a six-legged relay race where they're throwing into like these oversize pants and they collect balls."Â says Brianne McGowan-Durfee, Northern Nevada Development Director for Special Olympics Nevada.
Brianne also says, "There's a blindfolded cornhole,"
The event also served to honor the life of the late Zachary Green. Green was a long-time Special Olympics Nevada athlete who donated multiple organs after his passing. His father says Zachary made it a point to always lend a helping hand.
"If somebody needed him, he was there," David Green says. "In fact, at work, he always stayed after work to make sure his boss got to her car safely."
Green was a multi-sport athlete with Special Olympics Nevada for 14 years playing basketball, flag football, and bocce. But another sport was Zachary's favorite.
"I think his favorite was track and field," David Green says. "He was, for seven years, running the fastest 100-meter guy in the state of Nevada for Special Olympics Nevada."
There was always a telltale sign when Zachary Green was excited about something.
"If he got excited," David Green says," he'd bend over and he'd rub his hands real fast, big smile. Yeah, that was my Zach."
Zachary donated his heart, lung, liver, kidneys, and corneas to save the lives of five people and allow two more to see. The Nevada Donor Network says registering to be an organ, eye, and tissue donor like Zachary is very important.
"Right now, in the United States, there are more than 100,000 people waiting for a lifesaving organ transplant," says Monica Myles, Director of Operations for Nevada Donor Network.
Myles says you can register as a donor at the DMV, on the Nevada Donor Network's website, or in the Health app, if you own an iPhone.
The Guardian Games this year are a great way for everyone to support Special Olympics Nevada and celebrate the life of Zachary Green.
if you want to learn more about Special Olympics Nevada, click here.
