BRIDGEWATER, Va. (WHSV)— Families gathered at Turner Ashby High School Wednesday night for a basketball game to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Valley Unified Basketball League, a league for high school students with disabilities.

John Woodrum came up with the idea of a unified league 11 years ago, he said, making Rockingham County one of the first in Virginia with a unified basketball league. This year, the anniversary game brought back almost 30 alumni from unified teams from previous years who participated in an alumni match. The night also hosted matches between East Rockingham, Broadway, Harrisonburg, and Turner Ashby High School.

“We want to continue to provide the opportunity for these special athletes- and one thing it has done is brought our communities closer together,” said Woodrum, former Turner Ashby High School Athletic director.

After retiring as athletic director nine years ago, Woodrum still spends time with the league, saying it is one of the most rewarding parts of his career.

“I love this. This is honestly the most meaningful program I have been involved in over 40 years of education,” said Woodrum.

“I’m telling you; I coach softball and stuff during the regular seasons, and this is the best. I’d rather coach here than anything else,” said Susie Bocock, coach for Harrisonburg Unified Basketball Team.

To learn more about Unified Sports in the Harrisonburg, Page, Rockingham, and Shenandoah areas or how to get involved, visit the Virginia Special Olympics website.

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