This summer, Los Angeles will welcome 7,000 inspirational athletes from 177 different countries to the 2015 Special Olympics World Summer Games.
To celebrate, The Coca-Cola Co., Atlanta, founding partner of Special Olympics, has assembled a team of artists to record a unified song for the World Games titled “Reach Up.” The new song debuts will be performed during the World Games, the company says.
“Reach Up” features rock band O.A.R., recording artist Cody Simpson accompanied by Breanna Bogucki, a singer and decorated Special Olympics athlete from Illinois who has autism, and Madison Tevlin, a young Canadian woman with Down syndrome who became a viral sensation earlier this year, the company says. Written by Marc Roberge, lead singer of O.A.R., Nathan Chapman and Kevin Kadish the uplifting alternative-rock song encourages people of all abilities to never give up, it adds.
Inspired by Special Olympics Unified Sports, “Reach Up” embodies the values of optimism, acceptance and inclusion shared by The Coca-Cola Co. and Special Olympics, it says.
“In all of our lives, we’ve been touched by somebody who may not have been born with all the opportunities we were,” said Marc Roberge, lead singer of O.A.R., in a statement. “At the end of the day, we are all doing the exact same thing — trying to appreciate this daily life that we’re given. I feel like the lucky one, being able to spend time and learn from two incredible individuals — Madison and Bree — and be involved with Coca-Cola for something as special and as important as the Special Olympics World Games. ‘Reach Up’ is an anthem. I want people to hear it and feel like they can do anything.”
Fans can support Special Olympics by sharing the “Reach Up” music video on social media using the hashtag #ReachUp. The Coca-Cola Co. will donate one dollar – up to $100,000 – to Special Olympics for every “Reach Up” video share using the hashtag leading up to the World Games, the company says.