Portage DD Special Olympics team doesn't slow down during COVID-19 pandemic

In 2020, along with other sporting programs, Special Olympics Ohio sports halted. In the fall of that year, Portage DD Special Olympics made the difficult decision to not have a winter season for indoor sports. Realizing the need for socializing and exercise for its many benefits of overall physical and mental health, the program looked to other avenues that could bring people safely together and get moving. And so began the Portage DD Hike Club.

Between September and October, 20 hikers participated in the eight hikes to complete the Portage Park District’s 2020 Wild Hikes Challenge. The challenge has been an annual activity since 2008 and encourages visitors to hike as they explore Portage parks. When the challenge is complete, hikers earn rewards: a hiking staff for first year hikers, an annual medallion and even a bandana for dogs. This opportunity brought many people out to such beautiful areas of Portage County that they had never been before. The enthusiasm continued into 2021, as Hike Club took the Wild Hikes Challenge of completing 30 miles in honoring of the Portage Park District’s 30th anniversary. The group completed 19 hikes, walking 33.6 miles between March and December.

Hike Club has been a great activity bringing people together to socialize, build friendships, and be physically active. One of the hikers, Teddy, said he enjoyed being in the fresh air and doing all the hikes. He loved exploring the new places. Completing the hikes helped Teddy feel stronger, if a hike was challenging, he liked taking on the challenge and overcoming the difficulty.

Denise, a parent of a Special Olympic athlete, hiked with the group. She felt that these hikes are great for all. She enjoyed meeting and talking to everyone. “If I was nervous about the difficulty of the hike, I was encouraged to just do my best. This is such a great and uplifting group! I’ve learned that so much can be accomplished when we focus on our abilities."

Portage DD Hike Club is open to anyone; a person does not have to be a Special Olympics athlete to hike with the group. There are various levels of hikers, so there is a spot for all. Visit the Portage Park District events page to register for upcoming hikes.

Portage DD Special Olympics was founded in 1978, with 18 athletes in Track & Field. Today, with almost 100 athletes and 10 sports offered, the group is one of more than 200 local organizations participating in the Special Olympics Ohio program. People are eligible to participate in Special Olympics provided they are at least 8 years of age and eligible to receive services from the Portage County Board of Developmental Disabilities. There is no cost to join Portage County Special Olympics, it is a non-profit organization funded through private donations and fundraising projects. Currently, the Portage All-Stars, a team of Portage athletes are “Freezing for a Reason” in this February’s Polar Plunge to raise funds to support the local program and more than 20,000 athletes across Ohio. Visit their team page https://www.classy.org/team/390879 to donate.

For more information about being part of, volunteering for, or donating to Portage DD Special Olympics, contact Colleen Brown by phone at 330-297-4187 or by email, at colleenb@portagedd.org.

For more information on the Portage Park District, visit portageparkdistrict.org or call 330-297-7728.

This article originally appeared on Record-Courier: Portage DD Special Olympics: Hiking through the pandemic