Portage DD Special Olympics: Hiking Thru the Pandemic

In 2020, along with other sporting programs, Special Olympics Ohio sports halted. In the fall of that year, the 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 started Hike Club.

Between September and October, twenty hikers participated in the 8 hikes to complete the 2020 Portage Park District Wild Hikes Challenge.  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. 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!”

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! Interested in joining us for a hike in 2022? Be sure to check out the Portage Park District events page to register.

Portage DD Special Olympics was founded in 1978, with 18 athletes in Track & Field.  Today, with almost 100 athletes and 10 sports offered, we are proud to be one of over 200 local organizations participating in the Special Olympics Ohio program.  Persons are eligible to participate in Special Olympics provided they are at least eight 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 our local program and over 20,000 athletes across Ohio.  Please visit their team page https://www.classy.org/team/390879 if you would like 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.