MOULTRIE – Two Colquitt County Special Olympians need the community’s help to reach their destination – Turin, Italy.

Jeremiah Spence and Jayda Hughes are representing the United States on the Special Olympics world team, as skiers, in the 2025 Special Olympics World Winter Games. Spence is competing in slalom skiing and Hughes is competing in speed skiing.

Coach Mitchell McKinney, with the Colquitt County Program for Exceptional Children, said, “Our original goal was to try to raise $10,000 to make sure our trip was completely funded. We have been very fortunate and blessed to have several things donated and discounted for us, so the total needed is actually a little less.”

He said that anything that was raised above what was needed for this year’s trip will be allocated into the Special Olympics program’s account for other trips and equipment.

McKinney said that their trip to Turin starts on March 4 and the games are March 8-15. He said the their program had already paid for several expenses, so at this point they were looking to reimburse the funds that have been used.

“Raising more money before the trip is our goal,” he said and added that they had received a donation from a local business.

More than 1,500 athletes from 102 delegations will compete in eight different sports, according to the 2025 Special Olympics World Winter Games website.

“The Colquitt County community has always done a lot for our program. People have donated their money, time, and resources to make sure our athletes with intellectual disabilities are included and blessed. For our upcoming World Games Italy adventure, our need is monetary support and prayers for safety,” said McKinney.

Anyone interested in making a donation, can do so online at bit.ly/3QfV9KN or contact Mitchell McKinney at (229) 589-0174.

Intern Kendrick Givens contributed to this report.