The 16th annual Sallarulo’s Race for Champions 5K Run/Walk will take place on Nov. 6 at Nova Southeastern University’s Davie campus. The 5k will begin at 8 a.m. in the courtyard in front of the Carl DeSantis Building.
Paul Sallarulo, chairman of the Broward Special Olympics, founded the Race for Champions 16 years ago in memory of his parents. NSU is the only private university in the U.S. that houses an office related to the Special Olympics. This office was created at the request of Don Taft, according to Sallarulo.
“See what people don’t understand about Special Olympics is they think we just have one or two events. We have 23 sports that we provide for 6500 people with special needs,” said Sallarulo. “So, you know when they come up to us and say my child or my brother or sister, because the ages run from 8 years old to 90 years old, so I keep calling them kids but did not they’re not.”
For those interested in volunteering at this event, they can contact Jacqueline Draizin at JacquelineDraizin@sofl.org or Paul Sallarulo at 954-593-0001 for more information. Registration is still open for those that would like to participate . The registration cost is $39. However, the registration fee has been waived for those associated with NSU. Sallarulo also noted that this and other events held by Special Olympics Florida are a great way for students to network.
“It is free, everything is free. We pay for the uniforms, we pay for the transportation, we pay for food, and whatever else we need to do we pay for. So, a parent can just drop their child off. The events happen every day. My son, who has Down Syndrome, is 29 years old. He just got done with bowling, paddleboarding and swimming. So, you know, now something else will come up basketball, snow skiing is coming up in the next month where I believe about 65 of our athletes [are going] to Boone, North Carolina, and some of them are probably the best in the world,” said Sallarulo.
Special Olympics Florida is currently fundraising for this event and all of their other events. They are working towards a goal of raising $250,000. Notable sponsors for Sallarulo’s Race for Champions include NSU and Broward Health at the champion tier, and the Ron and Kathy Assaf College of Nursing and Rick Case at the titanium tier.
“I’d love for our students to participate in Special Olympics, whether they live here in Broward or they move on different parts of the world,” said Sallarulo. “That they will remember that day, and remember what it meant to them and volunteer for Special Olympics. That’s what we need.”
