By Kaitlin Candelaria
Matt Nelson started working at the Lakeshore Foundation as a high school student in 2005 to earn some extra gas money. He has stayed involved over the last decade while he was an undergraduate at Auburn University, while he earned his MBA and even as he procured a law degree.
Now a member of Lakeshore’s junior board, Nelson said it’s hard to sum up what the facility means to him. Diagnosed with cerebral palsy, he has used the facility as a frequent resource.
“They helped me with my own fitness level,” he said. “It’s helped me be more independent. Before, I couldn’t go run around different cities and travel and do the things that I do. In law school, I did an internship in D.C. where I ran all over the city. When you see things like that, it’s hard to sum up.”
Nelson uses facilities at Lakeshore to maintain his fitness levels so he can maintain his mobility. His favorite activity? Swimming.
“Cerebral palsy doesn’t get worse or get better, but to be able to adapt to it is something that Lakeshore has helped me do,” Nelson said. “Not only does it help me with the swimming pool and working out when I’m able to, but I’m able to see the opportunities they’ve created for people with disabilities and people without them such as family members or some of the senior citizens.”
The junior board is gearing up for the annual Lakeshore’s Amazing Race fundraiser June 13.
According to facility officials, the Amazing Race will give teams of four the opportunity to compete in interactive challenges. The challenges are designed specifically to build awareness of the capabilities of people with physical disabilities and to promote programs and resources available to community members at Lakeshore.
In past years, activities have included kayaking in a pool with one hand and arm immobilized or running down a track while blindfolded, using only a small tether as a guide.
This will be the seventh year that the junior board has hosted this event. Last year, the race raised over $50,000 for the foundation.
“The goal is to raise funding, but another main point is for the community to just come and see the facility,” Nelson said. “At the Amazing Race, they make people do activities that involve daily living with a disability. You’ve got people coming in trying wheelchair activities, and just seeing people look at life with a different vantage point is fun to watch.”
The Amazing Race will begin at 9 a.m. Awards will be presented at noon. The cost for each participant is $75. For more information, visit www.lakeshore.org.
