It was a beautiful ending to a wonderful adventure.

I just spent the last six weeks watching a very dedicated man who volunteers with the Dream Team, Mr. Clay Colby, work with Joey, a great young man who attends Columbia Falls Junior High School.

Joey wanted to learn to ski better. Clay is one of the Dream Team volunteers who give of their time and talents to teach special education students to ski at Whitefish Mountain Resort. Once a week they spend their Tuesdays working with these students to prepare them for the Montana Special Olympics Winter Games.

Clay is an excellent skier who has the patience of Job. Clay took Joey and molded him, cajoled him, and created a confidence in him that allowed Joey to not only participate in the intermediate skiing events, but to earn his very first medal. The excitement on Joey’s face when he received that bronze medal was priceless and the joy on his mother’s face brought tears to my eyes.

I have been working with Joey in the classroom for the past six months and could not be more proud of him. I wanted to not only tell Clay what a great thing he had done but to let the community know that these men and women who volunteer for the Dream Team deserve the highest praise and accolades that there are.

Thank you all for what you do and for who you are.

— John Williamson