Anderson ‘Volunteer of the Year’

For Vt. Adaptive Ski & Sports

Mary Anderson of Bethel Lympus has been named Volunteer of the Year by the Southern section of Vermont Adaptive Ski and Sports.

With the motto "Sports for Every Body," Vermont Adaptive is committed to empowering individuals with disabilities and believes that sports and recreation provide a physical, mental and social experience that is immeasurable in promoting self-confidence and independence. It provides activities such as downhill and cross country skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing, bowling, climbing, skating, sailing, canoeing, bicycling, horseback riding and more to individuals with almost any disability, including amputees, paralysis, autism, blindness, developmental delays, cerebral palsy, attention deficit, head injuries and emotional disabilities.

Anderson, who has been a volunteer with the program for over 11 years, notes that volunteering for the organization is a great way to spend time and can be a family affair. For years she did it with her son, whom she home-schooled, and says, "He learned so much through volunteering with the program and is totally comfortable with people with all types of ‘abilities.’"

Individuals from many states volunteer and participate with the program, which has bases both at Pico Mountain and at Sugarbush in Warren.

"All of the volunteers deserve this award, as do the dedicated program coordinators," says Anderson.

Anyone who is interested in volunteering or participating in any of the programs offered by Vermont Adaptive is encouraged to contact Donna Stanley at 802-786 4991. There are special weekend and weeklong events for the blind, families and children.

Vermont Adaptive has just been named the only official Paralympics Sports Club of Vermont and expects to be adding a number of new programs as a result of this. The Paralympics will be held this year in Beijing, China, two weeks after the Olympics. Vermont Adaptive has had one Randolph participant, Misha Aronson, chosen to attend the International Special Olympics next winter.

In addition to the sports programs, Vermont Adaptive holds a number of fundraisers, including yearly 50- and 100-mile races. The 50-mile race is for both runners and mountain bikers and is held in the early fall. The 100-mile race is for runners and horseback riders and will be held this year on July 19 and 20. To find out more about this year’s race either as a participant or a volunteer worker contact Jim Hutchinson at huchpeth@comcast.net or 728-5294.

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