Now More Than Ever: Special Olympics powers up for change
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Special Olympics Davidson County (SODC) has been serving individuals with intellectual disabilities in Davidson County for over 40 years. Our mission is to provide year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities, giving them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy and participate in a sharing of gifts, skills and friendship with their families, other Special Olympics athletes and the community. Over the years we have had the honor of working with amazing athletes. SODC athletes in a normal year have opportunities to participate in competitions, locally as well as state and national tournaments. As everyone knows, the past two years have been anything but normal. We have not been able to hold in-person trainings or competitions. SODC normally holds serval social events and services each year, victory dances to celebrate the ending of a successful local competition, picnics, and free physicals. To say that we are ready to get together again is an understatement. Although we have not been able to gather together, with the help of Special Olympics NC we have been able to offer virtual programming to Special Olympics Davidson County athletes. SODC athletes embraced the change in programming and made the best of an uncertain situation.
Partner Up Power Up is a 10-week unified virtual fitness program. Davidson County athletes have been participating in the program since the fall of 2020. It has been a huge success with over 550 participants to date. Partner Up Power Up is a unified program which means individuals with and without intellectual disabilities participate together. The 2021 spring season of Partner Up Power Up had 377 participants. This was mostly made up of school aged athletes. This would have not been possible without the dedication of Davidson County, Lexington City, and Thomasville City school systems. Teachers participated alongside their students incorporating Partner Up Power Up in their daily activities. Special Olympics Davidson County had 4 athletes/unified partners with a perfect record of participation in the spring 2021. Katie Martin, Natalie Little, Stephanie Wilkerson, and Lori Wilkerson had 60 days of completed activity. Athletes also had the opportunity to participate in virtual dances via Zoom. All participants of the program are provided with a tracking booklet to record their progress, pictures of different exercises, and nutrition tips. They are also given workout supplies, t-shirts, and incentive prizes. Partner Up Power Up will be staying around as a program opportunity even as in-person activities resume.
We are looking forward to 2022, and the start of in-person activities. We are excited about the Special Olympics USA Games. USA Games will be held in Orlando, Florida, June 5-12, 2022. Special Olympics Davidson County is thrilled to announce two of our athletes have been selected to attend Justin Branham to compete in equestrian and William Gaddis to compete in athletics (track and field). They have both worked so hard at their sport and we know they will make Special Olympics Davidson County proud! James Price, SODC bocce coach will also be attending as coach for Team North Carolina Bocce. We wish everyone luck in this exciting opportunity!
The United Way funding SODC receives along with fundraising events we host throughout the year, is what allows us to offer different sporting opportunities to individuals in Davidson County with an intellectual disability. SODC is thankful for the continual support of the community.
