Belton, Texas – On Saturday, Oct. 16, the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor Athletic Department will host its annual TOUCHDOWNS event at Crusader Stadium, in conjunction with Down Syndrome Awareness Month.
At 11:30 a.m., members of the special needs community and their families are invited to attend the CRUise, where UMHB Football, Cru Cheer, Blackshirt Cru Spirit Band, and Sader Belles will make their way to the Bawcom Student Union for a pre-game pep rally. At halftime, athletes with special needs will have the opportunity to score a touchdown on the field. Families and caregivers of children with special needs will receive free admission to the game against Texas Lutheran University. The kickoff is at 1 p.m.
Lexi Viering, a pre-occupational therapy senior and UMHB Best Buddies chapter president, said, “Our members get really excited – it’s a fun and inclusive event for them and their families. People always reach out every year after attending TOUCHDOWNS to get involved with our Best Buddies program.” Best Buddies is an international nonprofit organization with chapters in middle schools, high schools, and colleges worldwide. The organization exists to create friendships among traditional students and people in the community with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
To learn more about TOUCHDOWNS, visit umhb.edu/touchdowns. If you have an athlete with special needs who would like to score a touchdown at halftime, click here for registration. If you have a cheerleader/dancer with special needs who would like to join Cru Cheer or Sader Belles for some sideline fun, click here for registration.
