Morris athlete to compete in Beijing
Published 11:57 am Monday, August 11, 2008
- Josh Roberts of Morris trains Wednesday at the Lakeshore Foundation U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Training Site. Roberts is a member of the 2008 U.S. Paralympic Track and Field team.
By Melanie Patterson
The North Jefferson News
The spirit of the Olympics has inspired a group of citizens in north Jefferson County.
Family and friends of Paralympian Josh Roberts, of Morris, are organizing a fund-raiser to help some of Roberts’ friends.
Roberts, a paraplegic after a car accident six years ago, trains at the Lakeshore Foundation U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Training Site in Birmingham.
Some of the athletes who train at the center need specialized equipment, like racing wheelchairs, which can cost thousands of dollars.
That’s where the Morris event comes in.
Lisa Barnwell of Morris, a long-time friend of the Roberts family, is helping organize a big celebration to honor Roberts and to raise funds for the Lakeshore Foundation and Lakeshore athletes.
Roberts, 26, got involved with the Lakeshore Foundation about three years ago. It started with a job at the foundation’s front desk.
It wasn’t long before Roberts, a former fullback on the Mortimer Jordan High School football team, decided he wanted to begin training again.
Kevin Orr, associate director of athletics at Lakeshore Foundation and the national team coach of wheelchair track for the U.S. Paralympic Team, said that Roberts “almost passed out” the first time he took his wheelchair around the track.
That was almost three years ago. Today, Orr said that Roberts is “able to run with the elite guys … he doesn’t like to get beat by them.”
Roberts will be joined by about 14 other athletes from the Lakeshore Foundation in Beijing for the Paralympic Games.
His fan club back in Morris is doing everything possible to support Roberts and his fellow athletes.
The Morris celebration is scheduled for Aug. 16, 4 p.m. until dark, at the walking track across from Morris City Hall.
At the event, Morris Mayor Craig Drummonds will present a proclamation to Roberts supporting him as he participates in the 2008 U.S. Paralympic track and field events in Beijing.
There will also be hot dogs, Sno Biz, popcorn, drinks, a DJ, and games and inflatables for children.
Bloomingfield’s Florist in Morris will donate Alabama and Auburn-themed arrangement on which people can make donations for a chance to win the arrangements.
All proceeds from the event will benefit the Lakeshore Foundation, but the family is also taking donations to help defray their cost of flying to Beijing with Roberts.
The U.S. Olympic Committee will pay for the athletes’ trips.
However, Roberts will be joined by his mother Lynn Roberts, his sister Jamie Roberts Pate of Fultondale and Pate’s daughter Leslie Pate.
The Lakeshore Paralympics team leaves Aug. 21. The athletes will attend a 10-day training camp in Okinawa, Japan, before flying to Beijing.
For more information about the Aug. 16 celebration, or to donate to Lakeshore Foundation, call Barnwell at 647-2912.