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SPECIAL OLYMPIAN INSPIRES SPECIAL TV MOVIE ON ABC

January 15, 2000

Sunday night's Wonderful World of Disney series on the ABC TV network will spotlight the both wonderful and challenging world of Loretta Claiborne, a runner from Pennsylvania who overcame mental retardation and physical disabilities to compete on the national level. Claiborne, a York, Pa., native, got her start in athletics with the Special Olympics of Pennsylvania program in the late 1960s. Following her motto "God is my strength, and Special Olympics is my joy," Claiborne is now an inspirational public speaker at forums across Pennsylvania and the United States.

Though she has become something of a celebrity as an adult, Claiborne began her life with both physical and social obstacles to overcome. Legally blind at birth, she did not walk until she was 4 years old. After corrective eye surgery, Claiborne entered the York school system, bucking recommendations from school officials that she be placed in a special school. The inclusion pioneer then burst into the sports world in high school, training with her local Special Olympics organization.

In 1981 and 1982, Claiborne ran in the Boston Marathon, finishing among the top 100 female finishers each year with times of just over three hours. Since then she has run 24 more marathons -- a marathon of marathons, so to speak.

The "The Loretta Claiborne Story", airing at 7 p.m. EST Jan. 16, is both a tribute to Claiborne's courage and to the devotion of her longtime friend and Special Olympics volunteer Janet McFarland, who died last February. Kimberly Elise, who previously appeared in the feature film "Beloved," stars as Loretta, and Emmy Award winner Camryn Manheim, of ABC's "The Practice" television series, plays McFarland. The movie was shot in Toronto and directed by Lee Grant. dePasse Entertainment, Inc. produced the movie, with Special Olympics Inc. President Timothy Shriver as co-executive producer.

According to Claiborne, allowing her life story to be made into a national TV event was difficult but ultimately worthwhile. Noting she lacked her own role models in the disability community growing up, Claiborne said in a statement, "I want kids watching who might be different or might not think they have a chance to know that there is a place for them. I want them to know they can make a difference with their life." She also noted shining the spotlight on the Special Olympic program will help her convey her gratitude for the opportunity and support it gave her growing up.

"Loretta's 100 times more amazing than the script," Special Olympics of Pennsylvania Vice President of Communications Jill Schoeniger said. "To say that Loretta has defied the odds her whole life would be an understatement. To say that she has lived her life with a single-minded determination and touch of humanity to which few can attain would be more accurate. But to believe that Loretta's story is unique would do an injustice to the other athletes of Special Olympics."8