Cos and Effect
Special Olympian
Betsy Brouwers is a real champ — and an inspiration to her friends
d e n o i Fash
friendships
for a lifetime
By Cos Barnes
My good friend Betsy Brouwers is a
winner. She recently competed in the Moore County Spring Games for Special Olympics, which included track and field events at Pinecrest High School on April 24, following attendance at Kernersville on April 18 for the regional qualifier.
At the Spring Games for Special Olympics, where the athletes were housed on the NCSU campus and participated at Cardinal Gibbons High School, she won two silver medals in the softball throw and the standing long jump, as well as fourth place in the 50m walk. Betsy was one of 1,500 athletes from across the state, and one of eight track and field athletes from Moore County. The opening ceremonies were held at Walnut Creek Amphitheater. Betsy said they were entertained with a dance and were given cups as favors, and they were served lunch and dessert. John Buchholz directed the athletes’ practices beginning at Pinecrest High School in April. Betsy is a superb bowler, according to Melinda Ransdell, one of her coaches. Betsy has very limited vision, but her trainer says, “She stands at the lane after bowling her ball and waits to hear it make it to the end of the lane. She can apparently tell from the sound if she has made a good roll.” We who have known Betsy for a long time marvel at her ability to recognize our voices even if she can’t see us. She knows me the minute I speak a word. She also remembers everybody’s birthday and will surely give you a call to celebrate. Betsy is a strong swimmer, and she participates in cheerleading. She also plays piano. She has lived in Moore County since 1991 and has been an active member of the Arc since then. She has lived in two group homes in Moore County and is planning to move to a private home which specializes in alternative family living, which is more of a home-life environment. Go for it Betsy, and keep on winning medals. PS Cos Barnes is a longtime contributor to PineStraw magazine. She can be contacted at cosbarnes@nc.rr.com.
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PineStraw : The Art & Soul of the Sandhills . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . September 2015
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