Heading the Special Olympics Cayman Islands (SOCI) group of volunteers for this new year is Shari Bovell, currently Principal of the Lighthouse School. Bovell, who has been a SOCI volunteer for the last 14 years and National Director during some of these years, expressed her gratitude to Board members and assured them that she would do her best to strengthen the Association’s ability to move into the next transition of revival and programme continuity.
On behalf of the SOCI family, Bovell thanked the outgoing Board members for their yeoman efforts to keep the Association together particularly at a time when there was much focus on recovery in homes, at work and in the community. Outgoing Chairman Cindy Scotland was also applauded for keeping the SOCI torch alight. And burning it is as SOCI’s athletes continue to excel in light of adapted training. Aquatics athlete Andrew Smiley attended the Gold Medal Swim Camp in Orlando, Florida last summer. Past National Swim Coach Dave Kelsheimer expressed how very impressed he was with Andrew’s tremendous improvement. Lorraine Russell, also a member of the Aquatics team, is presently attending school in Houston, Texas where he is the first swimmer with an intellectual disability to be accepted in its competitive swim program. ‘The success stories are awesome!’ said Athlete Leadership Programmes Director, Toni Johnson.
SOCI’s new National Director, Kim Landry, tells us that training for our athletes is on Thursday afternoons at 5:30pm at the Lighthouse School for Bocce and Athletics programmes; and on Saturday mornings at 9am at the Lions pool for the Swimming programme. ‘We really cannot have too many volunteers,’ said Bocce Coach Nicole Thompson, ‘as there are so many ways that we can support our athletes.’
Persons interested in being a SOCI volunteer may contact Volunteer Director Susan Whittaker at 947-5454 from 8:30am – 5pm; or e-mail [email protected].
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