Pittsford, N.Y. (WBEN) - Thursday was a meaningful day for members of the Special Olympics of New York, as they got a close and personal chance to meet and interact with several Buffalo Bills players at training camp in Rochester.
As the players came off the practice field on Day 2 of training camp at St. John Fisher University, they came over and greeted several athletes from the Special Olympics of New York just outside their designated tent behind the Polisenni Track and Field.
LISTEN LIVE TO WBEN:
Erica Raepple, Senior Director of Development for the Special Olympics of New York's Western Region, knows this annual trip to Bills training camp is a special one for the athletes.
"Our athletes look forward to this every single year, and we're so fortunate to have a great partnership with the Buffalo Bills that they give us this opportunity," said Raepple on Thursday. "This is a lot of our athletes' first time being able to be a part of something Buffalo Bills related. It's great for them to come out and be a part of this, and the players are absolutely fantastic. They come over and they say hi to all of our athletes, and it's a highlight of their year."
Every year, the Special Olympics of New York designates one practice of every camp to take in the Bills gearing up for the upcoming season of football. Raepple says it's fantastic to see many of the Bills players take a moment of their time following a practice and interact with other competitive athletes.
"How more incredible can you be? Everybody's coming out and supporting us," Raepple said. "With the Special Olympics, we preach our Inclusion Revolution, everybody needs to be a part of something. And sport brings so many people together. So by coming out and seeing all of the players come out and hang out with our athletes, and treat them exactly like that, just athletes. It's not people with intellectual disabilities, it's not focusing on disabilities, it's athletes with athletes."
As for the athletes, Maddie, who is a gymnast, is fortunate for the opportunity to get out and be part of a special day with the Bills in Rochester.
"Being here is, I think, a big opportunity for us when we get to meet everybody and get autographs in the end. And being able to come here as part of the Special Olympics is just, I think, an amazing time, where you get to meet lots of people, lots of players. It's a once in a lifetime opportunity," said Maddie.
She says her favorite players she got a chance to interact with and say hello to on Thursday were quarterback Josh Allen and tight end Dawson Knox.
As for Unified athlete Brad, he says his first training camp experience with the Bills was a happy occasion for him. He says he enjoyed getting a chance to meet the players and have some memorabilia autographed to take home.
He adds he had a number of players he enjoyed interacting with on Thursday at training camp.
"The guy who just came out, his name is Spencer [Brown]. Spencer is my favorite, and Josh Allen, Ryan Bates and Taylor Rapp," said Brown.
Among some of the other notable athletes to spend some considerable time interacting and signing autographs for the Special Olympics athletes included Gabe Davis, Reggie Gilliam, Mitch Morse and more.
Not only has the partnership between the Bills and Special Olympics of New York been a fantastic one for several years, Raepple says it's also an important relationship.
"We actually hold an event at the Bills stadium, and we're fortunate enough that some of the players do come out for that. And we're hoping to get a couple of the players to participate in our polar plunge this year, but it means so much to our athletes," she said. "It's humanizing, so everybody is able to come out and see, Josh is massively tall, but he's gonna take the time to say hi to our athletes and treat them with respect. It's incredible."