CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) — Lucy Walsh lives in her crocs, but on Thursday she got brand new shoes courtesy of Fleet Feet Chicago and Saucony. Walsh has been a Special Olympian since she was 8 years old.
“I do volleyball, swimming,” she said. “I do my best at it.”
Lisa Zimmer, with Fleet Feet, said they gave away 200 shoes to Special Olympians at the event in Chicago’s East Garfield Park neighborhood. The shoes, Zimmer added, are an expensive commodity for many families.
“I’m thinking that they get their shoes [at] as minimal cost as possible, but we’re putting them in a quality pair of footwear,” she said.
Maureen Perez, with Special Olympics, said these athletes often have a hard time finding proper footwear.
“A lot of our participants … it’s not your regular, run-of-the mill shoe,” Perez said. “They need specialty sizes, extra wide feet. This is such a great opportunity for our athletes to be able to have the best shoes that can be provided — that will fit everybody — so they will be at their best.”
Many of the athletes will be competing in the Golden Games, which take place next week.
JoJo Walsh said Special Olympics has made all the difference in her daughter's life.
“So many opportunities for Lucy, and I love volunteering,” she said. “It’s just one good thing after another.”
For Lucy Walsh, the purple laces match her personality, and she said her new shoes make her feel like Cinderella.
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