Special Olympians get ready for Quebec City

The News
NEW GLASGOW - Pictou County Special Olympics are sending five athletes to the national winter games in Quebec City this month.
On Feb. 24, five athletes, two coaches and one mission staff will travel by train to Quebec City as part of Team Nova Scotia.
All five athletes will be competing for their first time in these winter sports.
David MacDonald, Shey MacDonald and Michelle Zuethoff will take part in the snowshoeing competition, while cross country skier Shawn Bennett and figure skater Greg Massaro also will compete.
"Carla Dumaresq will be the assistant coach for team Nova Scotia Snowshoeing and Lyndsay Lewis is the head coach for the cross country ski team; it is the first National Games for both coaches," said Special Olympics regional co-ordidinator Cathy Mason.
"The coaches have been in training with their athletes since September and have attended two training camps to get them ready for competition in Quebec."
Erika Waller has been a local training coach for Massaro and has been training three days a week with him at John Brother MacDonald Stadium in New Glasgow, as part of the Heather Figure Skating Club.
There will be 56 coaches, athletes and mission staff as part of team Nova Scotia.
"We are very excited to have such a good representation of coaches and athletes representing Pictou County," Mason added.
Opening ceremonies Feb. 26 competition starts on Feb. 27 and winds up on March 1.
The athletes competing will be competing for the option to earn a spot on Team Canada at the World Games in Boise, Idaho, which will take place in February 2009.
"To date, we have only ever had one athlete from Pictou County qualify and attend a world Special Olympics Games and that was Susan Bailey in the sport of swimming."