Special Olympics New York recently announced a major effort to increase athlete participation. They want to double their numbers in the next few years.

Brothers Anthony and Ed Lawless are training to compete in the Special Olympics. They’ve played pretty much every sport you can imagine.

“It’s made me much stronger and more confident and it’s made me better for who I am,” Ed said.

Ed was named the 2019 Law Enforcement Torch Run’s Athlete of the year. Anthony is currently training for the national powerlifting competition.

“It has made me a stronger person outside the gym,” Anthony said. “I guess it helps with all aspects of life.”

The Lawless brothers have made an impact on the organization, too.

“They’re leaders in our organization; they’re mentors to other athletes, and when you see the Lawless family, that is who we are looking for, that’s where we want to be expanding,” Special Olympics New York President and CEO Stacey Hengsterman said.

Over the next three years, Special Olympics New York has an ambitious goal to reach at least 71,000 athletes. That’s double what athlete participation is now.

“Wherever you see sports offerings, we want you to see Special Olympics,” Hengsterman said. “It’s on us to make it a little bit easier for someone to join Special Olympics.”

Meeting their goal means enlisting the help of fitness centers like ABC Sports and Fitness, where the Lawless brothers train for free, and finding coaches like Chris Hughes who are willing to volunteer.

“He’s pushed me beyond my limits, but I keep working to catch up and now I keep asking to be pushed every single day, and he has to reel me back,” Anthony said.

Hughes is Anthony’s powerlifting coach. He left his day job six months ago to work full-time as the director of impact for Special Olympics New York.

“You know, I thought I was doing something great starting this powerlifting team,” Hughes said. “We’re helping these athletes, but it was the complete opposite where I feel like I gained so much more from the athletes, and it truly made me change my entire career.”

Anthony’s not afraid of competition, and knowing how much the Special Olympics has changed his life, he hopes as many athletes as possible will be able to participate.

“It’s just a great atmosphere,” Anthony said. “I love my teammates. They’re amazing. We all have our own quirks, but we all manage to work together.”