Press Releases

November 9, 2005

THE ARC NORTHERN CHESAPEAKE REGION & HARFORD COUNTY SPECIAL OLYMPICS HOST AN EVENING WITH LORETTA CLAIBORNE

[ABERDEEN, MD] -The Arc Northern Chesapeake in partnership with Harford County Special Olympics will present an evening with Loretta Claiborne, Special Olympics athlete and speaker, at The Arc Northern Chesapeake Region on Tuesday, November 15 at 7PM.

Loretta Claiborne was the middle of seven children in a poor, single parent family. Born partially blind and mildly retarded, she was unable to walk or talk until age 4. Eventually, though she began to run. And before she knew it, she had crossed the finish line of 25 marathons, twice placing among the top 100 women in the Boston Marathon. She's carried the torch in the International Special Olympics, has won medals in dozens of its events, and also holds the current women's record in her age group for the 5000 meters at 17 minutes. However, Claiborne says the most rewarding part of her life has been her involvement with the Special Olympics, and she want to continue helping people with mental retardation and physical disabilities succeed.

If interested in attending this session, please contact Gina Croci at The Arc at 410-836-7177, extension 343 or Email Gina Croci and for Harford County Special Olympics, Mike Watkins at 410-638-4899.

The Arc offers a wide variety of services to individuals with developmental disabilities in Harford and Cecil County, both children and adults, to make informed choices in their lifestyles, vocations, education and recreational pursuits, and to assure stable and nurturing lives among their families and friends.