On October 8 we will be holding our first annual Fit at 5K. Part of the proceeds for the race will be donated to Special Olympics Maine. A year round athletic training, and competition program for people with intellectual disabilities. The program is for people of all ages. In fact they have had athletes as young as two and a half, and as old as eighty get involved.
Lisa Bird from Special Olympics Maine tells us that it is a great opportunity for people to see what it is like to be part of a team. "We want everybody out there to be aware of the benefits of being involved in sports."
Special Olympics Maine offers 60 local and state competitions through the year. Athletes also have the opportunity to compete in national and international competitions. For this Fit at Five we met one of the teams that participates in the Special Olympics. They are the Navigators from the Auburn area.
For five years the Navigators have been practicing their sports skills two to three times a week. They know that competing in the Special Olympics is a privilege, and that is why the have to complete at least ten practices in order to compete. What these athletes get from the Navigators program goes far beyond just sports. They are prominent in the community volunteering, and they are also learning important life skills.
At their meeting house in New Auburn the Navigators learn about nutrition. The have a budget for meals, and learn to shop within that budget. They also bring recipes in that they would like to try, and learn how to cook. Many of them have brought the skills they have learned through the Navigators into their everyday life.
Please come join us on October 8 at 9am in Payson Park to cheers on the runners taking part in the Fit at 5K, and help support the Special Olympics Maine.