By Shannon Lukens. Cover photo courtesy Timothy Hancock.

 

The SOSY group, as in Special Olympics Steamboat Yampa Valley, have started their summer practices. These are residents with disabilities from throughout Northwest Colorado, including Craig, Hayden, Steamboat Springs, and South Routt.

Here’s Heidi Brumleve.

“I just love being out here because I like to get in shape. I like to play softball. I think it’s fun. I always have a good time out here. I have lots of friends.”

 

They practice bocce ball and softball at Howelsen Hill every Tuesday evening and have dryland training on Thursday evenings at Whistler Park. Tournaments are coming up the last weekend in July in Grand Junction.

The 20 athletes are from STARS, Horizons and True North, which is a group started by Audrey Zwak.

“It’s a non-profit that we started for young adults, 18-21, that are coming out of most of the services in town, so they can have peer groups, job coaches. We have 15 people with 15 different jobs in Steamboat. And they do life skills.”

True North means pointing adults with disabilities in the right direction. Audrey’s daughter, Ellie, said why she likes it and gave a cheer.

“Cause everyone’s here. My best friends. Whoop!”

The SOSY group will also be having fundraisers outside of Steamboat Ace Hardware on June 15 and July 6.

Melissa Pollack is the new Special Olympics coordinator for Steamboat Springs and the Yampa Valley.

Here are some more pictures from Tuesday’s practice.