Taupo's Laura Davies has been selected to participate in Special Olympics New Zealand's national Athlete Leadership Programme.
Taupo's Laura Davies has been selected to participate in Special Olympics New Zealand's national Athlete Leadership Programme.
A Taupo woman is one of nine New Zealanders with intellectual disabilities that have been selected to participate in Special Olympics New Zealand's national Athlete Leadership Programme.
Laura Davies has been involved with Special Olympics Taupo since 2008 and has been picked for the programme which empowers athletes to sharetheir stories and inspire others with an intellectual disability.
Known as Global Messengers they are instrumental in helping grow the awareness and understanding of Special Olympics and to communicate the powerful declarations of hope, acceptance, dignity and courage of Special Olympics athletes around the world.
Ms Davis is a big believer in keeping fit and staying active in the community. As well as her sporting endeavours she donates her time to a wide variety of causes, including being a teacher aide for a dance lesson at a local special needs unit, and volunteering at her local Farmers store and Riding for the Disabled.
She's also a craft fan and makes items such as pet beds for the SPCA and things to sell for the Cancer Society.
Recently Ms Davies helped make a winning outfit out of rubbish bags for the local hospice's "Creative Catwalk" fundraiser, and modelled it at the event.
She is on the Special Olympics Taupo club committee and competes in swimming and athletics. She has helped to fundraise for events with raffles, sausage sizzles, growing plants to sell, and working at a local market day.
Ms Davies said the Special Olympics had given her a new group of friends, helped to keep her fit and active, and increased her confidence, self-esteem and ability to talk to new people and make new friends. Being a diabetic, training and competing with Special Olympics also helps her manage her health.
"I want to help people with and without disabilities to learn that they can all achieve their goals, whatever their abilities or disabilities are," she said.
To date 63 athletes have graduated as Global Messengers and have gone on to represent Special Olympics around New Zealand and abroad.
The 2017 Class of Global Messengers will begin their Athlete Leadership training early next year at the first of a series of workshops. These sessions will teach public speaking, media liaison, presentation skills, speech writing, goal setting, and leadership.
