Lawrence athletes participating in this year’s Special Olympics will be part of a Team Kansas send-off Friday in Olathe.

The athletes will gather at the Residence Inn, 12215 S. Strang Line Road, before hitting the road to Ames, Iowa, for the first ever Special Olympics USA National Games.

Powerlifter Brady Tanner, son of Haskell Indian Nations University softball coach Gary Tanner, is heading for the national event.

So is aquatics competitor Becky Saathoff. Both are 2000 graduates of Lawrence High School.

The games will be on the Iowa State University campus July 2-8, with more than 3,000 athletes representing all 50 states.

The rally is sponsored by Special Olympics Kansas and will include a dinner at 6 p.m., followed by a parade of athletes, a recognition program and a dance.

Cost is $10 per person at the door.