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Special Olympics team heads to nationals for win, memories

Posted at 7:20 AM, May 26, 2016
and last updated 2016-05-26 08:27:28-04

RICHMOND, Va -- A group of local volleyball players had their send-off Wednesday evening as they head to the national championship.

The Special Olympics Virginia Area 25 Volleyball Team is headed to Orlando, Florida to take part in the competition. The celebration included cake and refreshments.

The team is made up of 12 members. Six are athletes who have disabilities, and the other six are people who want to work with them, regardless of whether they have a disability.

While volleyball is a big part of the trip, the memories they will make on the trip are a big deal as well. Many of the team members have never traveled out of the area.

"Those seven have never been on an airplane, or out of the state of Virginia," said Sylvia Seaborne, the team's coach. "They live in inner-city Richmond, and this will be their first time out of Virginia, so that's what's exciting about it. "

The team says it's coming back with the top prize.

"It's a must. That's all they talk about. 'We're coming back with the gold. They text me -- 'we're going for the gold,'" Seaborne said.

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