Clay County Special Olympics athlete Lana Foster, has competed in Special Olympics since she was in pre-k. Not only does the 21 year-old compete in basketball and bocce, she also competes in equestrian, track and field and cheer.
By Lorrie Ross
Staff Writer
Clay County has an athlete of international status among its residents. Lana Marie Foster recently attained that distinction when she traveled to Peru as a multi-sport Special Olympics athlete.
While in Peru from Tuesday, Feb. 27 to Friday, March 8, the 21-year-old visited Lima, Machu Pichu, the United States Embassy and Cusco. In the fall, she will become a Special Olympics Global Messenger, which is the main role in athlete leadership, according to Foster.
The enthusiastic young woman has been involved in Special Olympics since she was in pre-k and enjoys everything about it. When asked what sports she competes in, she replied, “I participate in Special Olympics track and field, equestrian, cheer, bocce, basketball, currently in but will do bowling this year,” she said. “I will plan on doing cycling this year, as well as alpine skiing and trying out tennis-pickleball that’s currently on the work of becoming a Special Olympics North Carolina sport. Pickleball is, 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.” She said, adding, “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 experience 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.”
Mom, Lisa Foster, is happy for her daughter’s experiences, too. “I'm so proud of her. She is just amazing and she never gives up and stays up-beat. 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 has a birthday in June, so she shared an 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. That’s my birthday, but in Cusco it is their holiday on June 21. 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, especially on June 21, my birthday.”
Lana is currently a sophomore at Tri-County Community College, pursuing an art degree. ”I will be transferring to Young Harris College to get my bachelors in art degree. All of my credits got transferred after college,” she announced. “I want to become an art teacher-professor.”
In addition to pursuing higher education, Foster plans to use her experience to network with 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 and Barae Carter for Special Olympics Clay-Cherokee Counties.”
She encourages others to become involved with Special Olympics. “By becoming a coach because we need coaches,” she said. “Just talk to Barae Carter of Cherokee County or Judy Jennings of Clay County. 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. If you would like to donate, contact Judy Jennings at: clay@sonc.net to get involved by donating, becoming a coach for more sport opportunities or competing in Special Olympics. That’s how to get people involved. I plan on doing a fundraiser on the square to share my experience in the summertime.”
Lisa thanked those who have helped Lana. “I would like to thank everyone who has been instrumental in her development, especially Judy Jennings.”
Lana ended, “The world has been a better place all thanks to God. I give God thanks in everything. All my prayers have been answered in Special Olympics — all thanks to Jesus and I’m finally going to become a Global Messenger and network with Fellowship of Christian Athletes.” She smiled, “Aren’t y’all proud of me? That’s a big accomplishment.”