SHIPPENSBURG, Pa. - The Shippensburg University Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), in conjunction with the local chapter of the Special Olympics, will host the Second Annual Fun Meet on Thursday, March 19 at 5:30 p.m. from the Donald N. Miller Pool inside Heiges Field House. The event is free and open to the public.

The event will be a meet and a fund-raiser for the Special Olympics swim team. It will consist of various swimming competitions between Special Olympians and some of Shippensburg University's student-athletes along with other individuals such as Shippensburg University President William Ruud, director of athletics Roberta Page and state representative Rob Kauffman.

"After such a successful inaugural meet last spring, we are hoping that this year's meet only gets better,” said SAAC President Will Kane. “We are extremely excited to have the likes of President Ruud, Dr. Page, and state representative Rob Kauffman swimming in the event and their contributions will only add to the excitement of the meet."

In addition to hosting the event, SAAC is also participating in a fund-raising initiative to support the Special Olympics. Each SAAC member, representing each of the 18 Shippensburg University athletic teams, is soliciting donations from individuals to create a "Chain of Love."

The student-athletes are asking for donations of $1 towards the Special Olympics, and donors will be able to sign their names on a slip of paper that will be used to create a chain around the pool during and after the event.

“We have worked on many projects in the last year, and I feel that this is the epitome of what we want to accomplish in the community,” said junior Andy Casale, the primary coordinator of the event. “I was honored to set up and to be apart of an event like this. It really puts things in perspective and it has been a great way to give back to the community.”

The idea for SAAC to host the local Special Olympics swim team originally came last year from from Kane, a senior member of the Shippensburg University men's swimming team, and his fellow club officers.

"One of the most rewarding aspects of the “Fun Meet” is watching the bonds form between the SU Athletes and the Special Olympians,” Kane said. “I look forward to watching these relationships form again this year and to having some more fun with the competitors."

The pep band, cheerleaders, mascot Big Red and campus and community members will be in attendance to cheer on all the athletes as they compete. All funds raised will go to the local Special Olympics group to help offset travel and competition expenses.