Elaine and Neil Lauder. Photo / Martin Sykes
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If there's one thing Neil Lauder's learned after years of volunteer coaching, it's to mind his fingers and toes.
Neil, 70, and wife Elaine, 64, have coached bowls and bocce for intellectually and physically disabled people in Auckland for the last 20 years.
"You never know when something's going to
be dropped on your feet or your fingers. We keep each other on our toes."
The sports lovers became involved with Manukau Special Olympics when they were asked to train a group of blind bowlers. Some of those have been with the Lauders, who now look after more than 50 athletes, ever since.
"I call what we do organised chaos, and we have a heck of a lot of fun doing it, but you do need to have a lot of patience. You're dealing with all different sorts of disabilities - physical, intellectual. Sometimes I reckon I should have a psychology degree."
The couple take their charges to regional and national competitions. It's important that athletes know they can achieve, Mrs Lauder said. "It is a lot of work. We might only coach for three hours a week but then there's the administration."
Caroline Leong, a co-ordinator for Special Olympics Manukau, said the couple gave invaluable opportunities for simple things such as developing friendships.
