Prize a special thanks for good sport
Devoted Nelson sports volunteer Lois Aitkenhead won $2000 worth of sports gear and spent it all on her club members.
Aitkenhead has been a pivotal part of Nelson’s sports community for decades and was recently named one of 10 Lotto NZ’s Thank a Sport Maker finalists for her contribution to Special Olympics Nelson.
She is also in the running for the ‘‘ultimate team experience’’ award, which is a people’s choice prize, valued at up to $10,000.
Special Olympics Nelson is part of the national sports organisation for people with an intellectual disability.
Aitkenhead said it was ‘‘ an absolute shock’’ to be awarded the money prize.
‘‘I had no idea it was in the offering, but I was thrilled, not just for me but for all the wonderful volunteers around me.’’
She said she bought sports bags for all the coaches, a well stocked first aid kit, bags for carrying basketballs and couple of jackets for the club with the prize.
Winning the top prize would be fantastic, Aitkenhead said, but she didn’t want to get ahead of herself.
‘‘I would love it for the club, you can do something really special [with the prize], you can hire someone to do lovely sporting things with the club members.’’
Aitkenhead has been part of the organisation since 1998 and heads its Nelson club.
She said she started as the club’s Christmas fairy, dressing up in a tutu, before she moved on to being the coordinator and never left.
‘‘We used to sing over the loud speakers and I’m a terrible singer so you can imagine how that went. But the athletes loved it.’’
Aitkenhead said the Special Olympics club meant ‘‘absolutely everything’’ to her.
‘‘I just really enjoy working with the team, I’ve become really really involved grassroots of it all.
‘‘It’s a huge part of my life.’’ Aitkenhead had 355 votes in the ‘Thank a Sport Maker’ contest on Tuesday, fifth in line behind finalists from West Auckland, Rotorua, Otago and Waikato.
Voting closes on Friday March 10 at midnight.
To vote on Lois Aitkenhead visit www.goodonyou.co.nz/ #/boards/sportmaker/entries/ lois-aitkenhead-of-specialolympics-nelson with the