Cahaba Center for Mental Health is once again giving its members a chance to go for the gold.

Cahaba Center for Mental Health will hold its 33rd Annual Special Olympics on April 4 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Memorial Stadium.

Started in 1979, the Special Olympics in Selma gives those with disabilities a chance to come out and compete in track and field events on a local, state and national level.

“It gives our folks that have some developmental delays an opportunity to compete just like anyone else would want to, and win and go further on to state and to nationals just like anybody else would,” said Tonya Gandy, developmental disability services director with Cahaba Center for Mental Health.

This year’s event will include 130 participants from Perry, Dallas, Wilcox and Washington counties.

Events will be track and field competitions including 50, 100, 200 and 400 meter runs, a wheelchair race, softball throw, running and standing long jump, shot put, distance throw, 400 meter relay, and 25 and 50 meter walks among others, with winners advancing to the state games at Troy University on May 18-20.

Gandy said the Special Olympics are a great way to show support for those with disabilities.

“It gives an opportunity for the public to see how great our folks are, get to see them out having fun interacting with the community,” Gandy said. “We love to see the stands full of people cheering them on. That’s why we try to get as many community people there as we can, because they (competitors) need a cheering section, too, and the community needs to get to know our folks and not be afraid of them or think that they can’t talk to them or interact with them. We want them (the community) to feel comfortable with our folks.”

Gandy said the event is free to the public and she hopes people come out to show support because it means a lot to the participants.

“Hopefully, it will be a beautiful day, and there is nothing better than seeing just the pure delight that’s on our folks faces when they cross that finish line,” Gandy said. “You can see it all over their body how proud of themselves they are and how proud of each other they are. It’s just so heartwarming, it’s great.”