COEUR d’ALENE — Mary Kerr describes her son Jake as highly competitive.

He plays at least one sport every season: Snowboard, bike, golf, basketball and softball.

Without Special Olympics Idaho, Kerr said, this wouldn’t be possible, as Jake has mental and intellectual disabilities.

“As a parent of a kid with special needs, your heart breaks when they don’t have friends or anything to do,” Kerr said. “I’m just so excited for him because outside of Special Olympics, he didn’t have any of that.”

With over 5 million athletes across 172 countries, Special Olympics is the world’s largest sports organization for people of all ages with intellectual disabilities.

Competitions are held regionally, nationally and even internationally, but the goal is the same: to build a sense of community and by doing so, put an end to stigma and discrimination.

Jake, 33, has been a Special Olympics athlete since he was 13. He and his family had been living in Alaska at the time, and Kerr said joining Special Olympics was a turning point in his life.

“We, his family, were his social circle,” Kerr said. “When he joined Special Olympics, he had a whole network of friends that were just like him.”

Jake found that same sense of community in Special Olympics Idaho when the family moved to Coeur d’Alene eight years ago, where Kerr grew up.

“The people here are so great,” Kerr said.

Kerr said the impact of Special Olympics extends beyond the athletes.

“Special Olympics is about recognizing those that are forgotten,” Kerr said. “Special Olympics gives these guys that can’t play regular sports an outlet, creating a network that they wouldn’t ordinarily have.”

Jake will be competing in Moscow in the Northern Summer Regionals for basketball in May.

“Going to their sporting events is pretty dang exciting,” Kerr said. “It gets very competitive.”

Special Olympics Idaho is also working to raise money and gather more volunteers ahead of the statewide Law Enforcement Torch Run and the State Summer Games, which are set for June in Nampa.

To donate, sponsor an athlete, or become a volunteer, visit specialolympicsidaho.org.