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Crime & Safety

PHOTOS: Tri-Valley Special Olympics

Hundreds of athletes from around Southern California competed in the day-long event.

Community and joy.

These are two words that can express the sentiment amongst the 500 volunteers that poured their efforts into another Tri-Valley Special Olympics event at Crescenta Valley High School, Saturday.

It's such a great way to get people involved in the community, look around and see people from all different areas just trying to expose them to what the Special Olympics is," said Kimberly Villa, volunteer at the event. "Any time I can get people to see how special they are is just very meaningful to me."

Members of the California Highway Patrol, Crescenta Valley Sheriff's Station and the Los Angeles County Fire Department were on hand to award each athlete their medals. The athletes take great joy in having law enforcement and first responders on hand to be a part of the ceremonies, Villa said.

Tyson Farwell, Los Angeles County fire fighter, has volunteered at the Tri-Valley Special Olympics for three years. Fellow fire fighters, members of his church and even his father volunteered for the days events.

"The sheer joy on their faces when you get to hand them a medal and the fact that they love that I'm in uniform. They love that a fireman is handing them a medal," Farwell said.

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