Cherokee and Clay counties share an athlete of international status among its residents. Lana Marie Foster attained that distinction when she traveled to Peru as a multi-sport Special Olympics athlete.
While in Peru from Feb. 27 through March 8, the 21-year-old visited Lima, Machu Pichu, the U.S. Embassy and Cusco. In the fall, she will become a Special Olympics Global Messenger, which is the main role in athlete leadership,.
The enthusiastic young woman has been involved in Special Olympics since she was in pre-kindergarten and enjoys everything about it. When asked what sports she competes in, Foster named most of them.
“I will plan on doing cycling this year, as well as alpine skiing and trying out tennis,” she said. “Pickleball is becoming a Special Olympics North Carolina sport, but not yet.”
When asked who accompanied her to Peru, Foster proudly replied. “Nobody accompanied me. Nor nobody locally around here came either. It was just me and SONC and Special Olympics and ECU professors and students.
“The experience was great; I had a good time. My experiences with Special Olympics are amazing. I thought about being in another country as a new way to experience God’s creation in a whole other separate place of the world, which was Special Olympics South America and Special Olympics Latin America,” she added.
Lana’s mother, Lisa Foster, is happy for her daughter’s experiences.
“I’m so proud of her. She is just amazing and she never gives up and stays upbeat,” Lisa Foster said. “She had a wonderful experience going to Peru and being selected from so many applications. She is going to be a global messenger, so the work will go on.”
Lana Foster has a birthday in June, so she shared another important piece of information.
“Fun fact: in Cusco they celebrate how I celebrate in June – the whole month for my birthday. But June 21 is winter solstice, so they have a party for June 21,” she said.
“It was fun, and now I’ll get to tell about it in June, which is spring games. I’ll get to tell the folks about my birthday in June and how I celebrate the whole month and I party, too.”
Foster is a sophomore at Tri-County Community College in Peachtree, pursuing an arts degree.
”I will be transferring to Young Harris (Ga.) College to get my bachelors in art degree. All of my credits got transferred after college,” she said. “I want to become an art teacher-professor.”
In addition to pursuing higher education, Foster plans to use her experience to network with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.
“Special Olympics means everything to me because we used to do only spring games, and now we do all of these other sports. Special thanks to Judy Jennings, Lindsey Waldron and Isabella Williams,” she said.
“Ms. Judy has done a tremendous job, and things wouldn’t be like they are if it wasn’t for her. Thank you, Ms. Judy Jennings and Barae Carter, for Special Olympics Clay-Cherokee Counties.”
Foster encourages others to become involved with Special Olympics.
“Our Clay-Cherokee partnership of Special Olympics needs coaches, and we need more volunteers and more participants from Clay and Cherokee to get more opportunities available,” she said. “I plan on doing a fundraiser on the square to share my experience in the summertime.”
Lisa Foster thanked everyone who took part in her daughter’s development.
“The world has been a better place, all thanks to God. All my prayers have been answered in Special Olympics,” Lana Foster said with a smile. “Aren’t y’all proud of me? That’s a big accomplishment.”
Details: To donate, help or volunteer, email clay@sonc.net.