Special Olympics NC athletes stay engaged amid coronavirus
>> CHERYL NELSON THANKS SO
MUCH.
>> THANK YOU.
>> AND THE CORONAVIRUS HAS
CANCELED ATHLETIC EVENTS
ACROSS THE COUNTRY INCLUDING
THE.
>>> SUMMIT GAMES BUT JUST
BECAUSE THE ANNUAL
COMPETITION IS CANCELED DOESN'T
MEAN ATHLETES HAVE
BEEN STAYING ENGAGED AND TO
ENJOY THIS MORNING BY
THE HEALTH DIRECTOR FOR SPECIAL
OLYMPICS NORTH
CAROLINA.
ELLEN, ALWAYS GREAT TO SEE YOU.
>> GOOD TO SEE YOU AS WELL.
THANKS FOR HAVING ME.
>> IN THE INTEREST OF FULL
DISCLOSURE I'M A MEMBER
OF THE BOARD AND STATION AND
COMPANY HUGE SUPPORTERS
OF SPECIAL OLYMPICS.
LET'S START WITH THE HEALTH AND
WELLNESS PROGRAM
THAT THEY OFFER AND BRIEFLY
TELL US ABOUT THAT.
>> YEAH SO AS WE KNOW SPECIAL
OLYMPICS IS A YEAR
ROUND SPORTS AND ATHLETIC
ORGANIZATION FOR CHILDREN
AND ADULTS WITH INTERELECT YULE
DISABILITIES AND TO
BE THE BEST ATHLETE YOU CAN BE
YOU NEED TO BE
HEALTHY AND OFTEN TIMES PEOPLE
DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO
THE CARE AND RESOURCES WE ARE
REALLY TRYING TO DO
OUR PART AND BREAK THAT BARRIER
DOWN BY OFFERING SIX
WEEK LONG WELLNESS PROGRAMS
WHERE THEY ARE WORKING
ON HYDRATION AND MENTAL
WELLNESS, EMOTIONAL
WELLNESS.
WE ALSO WORK WITH A LOT OF
PARTNERS IN THE
HEALTHCARE INDUSTRY HEALTHCARE
ORGANIZATION
HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS TO OFFER
FREE HEALTH SCREENINGS
AND OUR BIGGEST ONE BECAUSE
THAT'S WHAT EVERY
ATHLETE NEEDS TO DO.
>> THAT'S EXCELLENT.
YOU KNOW RIGHT NOW OUR ATHLETES
WOULD HAVE BEEN
TRAINING FOR THE SUMMIT GAMES
AND LOOKING FORWARD TO
IT BUT YOU CAME UP WITH
SOMETHING CALLED THE
CHALLENGE UNDER WAY FOR THE
LAST SEVERAL WEEKS.
TELL US MORE ABOUT THAT.
>> YEAH.
WELL WE REALLY JUST WANTED TO
MAKE SURE OUR
ATHLETES WERE ENGAGED IN
TRAINING JUST LIKE ALL OF
THE OTHER ATHLETES OUT THERE SO
WE POSED THE
CHALLENGE TO EVERYONE FOR 30
DAYS GOING OUT AND
EXERCISING FIVE DAYS A WEEK,
DRINKING FIVE BOTTLES
OF WATER EVERY DAY AND LEAVING
FIVE EVERY DAY AND
IT'S BEEN TO SEE SOME OF THE
STORIES COME OUT OF
THAT.
>> I SHOULD GET INVOLVED IN
THAT BOT CHALLENGE. WHAT
KIND OF ATHLETES.
>> THEY'VE TAKEN IT ON FULL
STEAM.
WE HAD OUR FIRST ATHLETE TURN
IN THEIR TRACKERS TO
US THIS WEEK BECAUSE HIS MOM IS
ON THE FRONT LINES
IN THE FUNERAL INDUSTRY AND
MAN, HE HAS BEAT ME ON
ALL FRONTS.
HE'S EXERCISING SEVEN DAYS A
WEEK FOR AT LEAST 55
MINUTES WHICH IS AMAZING MORE
THAN YOU WOULD EVER
THINK AND HE'S EATING FRUITS
AND VEGGIES AND
HYDRATING SO WE'RE REALLY
SEEING THE ATHLETES AGAIN
TAKE THIS ON ITCHING TO BE BACK
WITH THEIR SPECIAL
OLYMPICS FRIENDS SO IT'S BEEN
REALLY GREAT TO SEE
EVERYONE GETTING OUT AND BEING
ACTIVE AND STILL
WANTING TO BE A PART OF THIS
COMMUNITY.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
SEVEN DAYS A WEEK FOR ALMOST AN
HOUR I TAKE MY HAT
OFF TO THAT ATHLETE AND PUTTING
ALL OF US TO SHAME.
HEY ELLEN ALWAYS GREAT TO SEE
YOU AND PLEASE STAY
SAFE.