| March 5, 2010 White Rock Athetes' Spirit Recognized VICTORIA – In his response to the Throne Speech, Surrey-White Rock MLA Gordie Hogg rose in the Legislature this week to recognize a local Paralympian, the community spirit of local athletes and the joy of athletics. “We have an exceptional young woman in South Surrey by the name of Sarah Hunter,” said Hogg. “I had the privilege of working with her when I was director of the youth detention centre and she was one of our staff members there. Since, she has become a paraplegic, and she has become a wonderful Paralympian as well.” Hunter, a high-ranking tennis player, will be carrying the Paralympic Torch on March 9th as the Flame makes its way to start the 2010 Games. “She is a remarkable young woman who is very inspirational,” said Hogg, remarking on Sarah’s impact on the local sports community including her motivational words to the national championship winning White Rock little league baseball team. Hogg also highlighted a couple of local Olympic torchbearers including 90 year-old resident Alfred Bennett, who was so proud to carry the Flame and received great reception at the Mann Park lawn bowling centre. “He's donated his torch to a school, because all of the students at that school were out to cheer him on. He said to me: ‘I feel like a rock star. I feel like I was a rock star. My grandchildren were so proud of me.’ “Another was a friend of mine by the name of Ferg Hawke,” said Hogg, who repeated Hawke’s words on running with the Olympic Torch: “’I've been so overwhelmed emotionally by the impact of carrying the torch, of understanding where it came from and what it meant, that I'm never going to clean that soot off it. That soot is an important part of what it is.’" “The Olympics are about relationships, they're about athletes, and they're about the things that we learn through the process of play,” said Hogg. “I think at their very best, we find our spontaneous sense of joy that comes out of the processes of play.” For a video of this statement and more local news, visit MLA Hogg’s website at www.gordonhoggmla.bc.ca. -30- | |
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