For the past nine years, the annual Lake Norman Special Olympics Sailing Regatta in Mooresville, North Carolina, has been led by a PCA employee. Senior Sales Representative Lisa Chambers, from PCA’s plant in Morganton, North Carolina, has served as the head coach and organizer of the event, which is held each year at the Lake Norman Yacht Club.
Lisa is passionate about this event and has great admiration for those who are part of it. “Despite the special challenges these athletes face, they have the courage to do what scares them. There is nothing like seeing them face their fears, get on the boat, go sailing and return with a smile on their face. Sailing is an amazing confidence builder, as it challenges these athletes like no other sport. The conditions are always changing, so they have to adapt and adjust very quickly. The friendship and love we share as a team is one that is hard to describe — we get back far more than we ever give.”
Lisa credits the many volunteers from Lake Norman Yacht Club, along with her husband and two daughters, who share her passion for making the team successful. She is also grateful to the athletes’ parents for sharing their “amazing children” with them.
To see the athletes in action in the most recent regatta, go to www.youtube.com/watch?v=oKvdLLKW_eg&feature=youtu.be. To learn more about Special Olympics and how you can get involved, please visit www.specialolympics.com.