For more than 20 years, WESH 2’s Jim Payne has volunteered his time supporting the Special Olympics. One of his favorite ways to help is to invite groups of athletes and speech coaches into the WESH 2 Studios for media training. The athletes get the opportunity to be interviewed by Jim and to practice what they will say when it’s their turn to step into the spotlight. When an athlete who is mostly non-verbal or very shy comes alive in front of the camera, it’s a magical moment.

In this story, you heard it yourself: these incredible athletes need your help to make their dreams come true. If you’re interested in becoming a Special Olympics coach or event volunteer, just call 1-800-322-HERO or visit SpecialOlympics.org to learn more.