Posted: 2/21/07
Helping one athlete at a time
 The Paradise Pride gang takes a break from basketball for a team picture inside the Rush City elementary school Feb. 15. (l to r): Daniel Cooper, Tristan Larsin, Shelley Foster, coach Lori Patterson: second row; Administrative coach Linda Lindeman, Tiffany Whittaker, Linzy Potter, Jessie Kent, Kaitlen Larsin. Not pictured; Alex Patterson, Justin Gronhoy. |
By Steve Morris
With a smile on her face and with as much enthusiasm as a child in a toy store, Lori Patterson is living her passion -- one special need athlete at a time.
Patterson has started a non-profit organization, Paradise Pride Inc., with the zeal to help disabled athletes on all levels improve their lives. The organization is geared for local athletes ages eight and older with special needs.
Located in Rush City, Paradise Pride matches youths called "Pride Pals" with a special needs athletes who they mentor weekly in a group setting for an hour. Currently, there are seven athletes and six "Pride Pals."
Twelve-year-old Linzy Potter of Rush City is one of the six "Pride Pals." She has worked with each of the athletes is in some fashion and has had a good experience.
"I wish we could be here all night," Potter said.
Now, the group calls Jacobson Elementary in Rush City their temporary headquarters.
After an informal survey, basketball was picked as the first sport to start with. The activities Paradise Pride chooses are open and can vary with the season or interests of the group.
Paradise Pride is not affiliated with Special Olympics in any way, rather it gives athletes another channel to get involved and be active in the community.
"We wanted to do our own so we would have more freedom," Patterson said. "I love Special Olympics, don't get me wrong."
Patterson, who has two special needs children of her own, moved to Rush City from Arizona two years ago in hopes of providing her children a better future.
While in Arizona, she coached a Special Olympics team for six years. When she moved, it was natural for her to get involved. If she didn't start her own organization, she would have been involved with an already established group, she said.
"I love coaching, this is everything to me."
Helping run Paradise Pride is Linda Lindeman, a special education teacher at Rush City. Patterson said they make a good team because they play off each other's strengths and weaknesses.
Everything aside, Patterson wants to keep the family aspect front and center.
"We really want it to be family oriented," she said. For more information on how you can get involved with Paradise Pride, contact Patterson at (320) 247-3035
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