I have found the cure for depression.

Spend a bright spring morning at the South Panola Track and Field Day.

As I pulled in to The Panolian parking lot Wednesday morning, across Highway 51 I heard the familiar sound of “Roll On, Tigers,” being played by the Batesville Junior High Band. It hit me.

It was Track and Field Day–the “Tiger Games,” the annual olympic-style event hosted for all the South Panola School District’s special needs kids.

I couldn’t get there fast enough.

Panolian staffer Emily Williams usually covers this event for us, but she’s been in the hospital this week.

It was my lucky day.

Sure enough, I was just in time for the first event, the 25 meter wheel chair race. Field Day director Robert Lightsey and volunteer Fred Graves got the kids lined up and at the call “on your mark, get set, go” the race began. I can’t tell you who won that first race. It doesn’t seem to matter. Everybody gets a ribbon.

Later, as one group of racers stood at the table to receive their awards, the volunteer on duty just asked, “what color do you like?” The little boy like red, so she gave him a red ribbon.

The exuberance of the athletes is matched only by the enthusiasm of the staff and volunteers who make sure every child is having a great time.

Some of the littlest runners, from pre-school classes, needed a little help in the 25 meter foot race. Teacher Annie Hilliard coerced and cajoled a rookie runner across the finish line. Next year, I’ll bet he drags Annie across.

At the finish line, the experienced members of the Civitan Club are there to congratulate all the runners and escort each one to get a ribbon.

In addition to wheel chair races and foot races, there are contests for throwing frisbees, softballs, and footballs. There are sack races and long jumps, tricycle races and basketball throws. The children are fed and entertained royally all day by school staff, volunteers from the Civitan Club, the Junior Civitans, assorted retired teachers, parents, and coaches. All the participants were given white t-shirts with “South Panola Tiger Games” printed on the chest.

The Tiger Games come about each year because a bunch of people get together (with contributions of money, time and energy) with one goal: give the district’s special children a day just to have fun.

It was a joyful day.

The Tiger Games were sponsored by Special T’s, Graves Oil, Treasurer Loans, the Civitan Club, Dunlap and Kyle, McDonald’s, NAPA, and the Batesville City Parks and Recreation Department.