CHEERING pupils at Evandale Primary School last week hailed Special Olympic champions.
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The school was visited by swimmers Tim Beattie and Jacquie Spencer, who spoke to the children about their achievements and involvement with the competition.
With the athletes was Special Olympics Tasmania vice chairman Chris Crawford.
Mr Crawford said part of the organisation's decision to hold the awareness raising event at the school was the attendance of down syndrome pupil Lucah Mathiassen.
Lucah's mother, cyclist Kristen Mathiassen, also used the occasion to speak about her upcoming fund-raising effort — Lucah's Ride.
Ms Mathiassen said funds raised through her ride, to travel from St Helens to Bruny Island and Hobart, would be donated to Special Olympics Tasmania.
"We leave on the October 16 and return on October 26, that's the day athletes fly back from Melbourne," she said.
"Lucah rides a recumbent bike, he has epilepsy that's triggered by physical activity, which makes it a bit difficult to have an upright bike.
"He will be doing most of his riding off-road on Bruny Island."
Ms Mathiassen said being a single mother, working and training meant it was difficult to participate in other fund-raising events, which is why she decided to make her own.
For more information about Lucah's Ride, go to www.facebook.com/lucahsride