With the West Virginia Special Olympics Summer Games only a month away, the call for additional volunteers to help run the West Virginia University-sponsored games June 8-10 is getting more urgent.

“We need approximately 1,500 volunteers to help run the games and to assist with the 600 or so athletes who will soon arrive on campus,”said Nancy Moore, WVU Special Olympics volunteer coordinator.”Right now we have about 100 volunteers.”

While Moore said some applications are coming in daily, she hopes that many more will sign on before the games begin.

“We are looking for anyone who wants to help,”Moore said.”Be it volunteers from church or civic groups, community volunteersyoung or old. All we require is enthusiasm.”

Volunteers are especially needed to be athlete buddies, buddy leaders, and to help coordinate opening and closing ceremonies, she said. Volunteers are also needed to work in the Olympic Village and to serve meals at the games.

Morgantown resident Julia Bruenderman has been a volunteer for the last three years and gets chills when speaking about what the experience has meant to her.

“Seeing the smiles on the athletesfaces is so rewarding,”Bruenderman said.”It makes you realize what you have and how not to be selfish, because they arent selfish. When they smile at you, its not just a smile. Its love and affection.”

“We may call it work,”Moore concurred,”but its really a whole lot of fun.”

Those interested in participating can call 1-888-988-2269. Applications also are available on-line athttp://www.wvu.edu/~instadv/specialolympics/