Volunteers for Special Olympics wouldn’t let a little overcast weather ruin their carnival, created to bring some sunshine for those celebrating Developmental Disabilities Day — known as 3-D.

More than 200 athletes and volunteers visited a petting zoo and played ski-ball and mini-golf on the Lakefill. But the big day served as just the beginning of a slew of events with the local Special Olympics games a week away.

“(Today was) good because it gets a lot of students involved,” said Lis Rehder, a coordinator of the event.

According to several volunteers, an off-campus singing troupe called Heartbreakers was the day’s highlight. Heartbreakers, a group of men and women with disabilities, performed before X-Factors, a Northwestern a capella group.

Rehder said she was disappointed that they were forced to end the events early due to bad weather but overall the day was a success.

“When you plan an event like this, it’s so hard to coordinate everything,” said Rehder, a Weinberg junior. “It caused a lot of stress last night when we saw ‘p.m. showers.'”

At the end of the day, volunteers said the day was a fun success despite the gray skies overhead.

“The students have just as much fun as the athletes,” said Shaili Rajput, a volunteer and Weinberg sophomore.

Mel Bronheim, Special O’s executive co-chairwoman, agreed that the event benefitted all participants. Bronheim, a Communication senior, added that the athletes also had a particularly fun time interacting and playing around with the volunteers.

“The athletes just love Northwestern student involvement,” she said, adding that athletes especially enjoyed arm wrestling the NU football players.

Bronheim, who joined Special Olympics as a freshman, said she was motivated by her uncle, who has Down syndrome, as well as a desire to become involved with a campus activity.

“It just has become a part of my life,” said Bronheim, a Communication senior. “It keeps everything in perspective.”

— Amy Hamblin