Johnson County community wants to give Special Olympics athletes their dream wedding
A cheer coach from Johnson County Parks and Recreation has brought together staff and community members to help a pair of Special Olympics athletes tie the knot.
Pam Claire, 61, and Chris Walker, 43, are nothing but #relationshipgoals, according to the Johnson County Parks and Recreation staff, who say their love has inspired the team to put together the couple’s dream wedding and honeymoon, paid for — at least in part — by the GoFundMe they started.
“They just treat each other so great, and are leaders in the community. Pam calls herself captain — she’s so caring and would do anything for anyone and that’s why I want to help them,” their cheer coach Stephanie Mason said.
Mason, who has spent the past few years coaching the couple, said when seeing the effort the two were putting in to save for the big day, she decided to partner with other staff to create a GoFundMe to help make their wedding dreams come true.
The plan is to help pay for the catering in what the couple calls their ‘blessing ceremony’, the hair and makeup for Claire, and to fund their honeymoon.
Both Walker and Claire are ecstatic to spend the day with friends and family, and are looking forward to their big day.
“We’re happy to see everybody and see them all support us and everything, and we’re very fortunate and blessed at the same time,” Walker said.
Finding each other
Walker and Claire first met as neighbors in the Johnson County Developmental Services housing program, and shared similar past-times, including participating in Special Olympic events. Their relationship grew and blossomed from there.
Their shared passion for the Special Olympics team they both participate in — the Rangers — is evident from the length of their commitment to the team: 31 years for Walker and 51 years for Claire.
The Special Olympics program works in collaboration with the Johnson County Parks and Recreation District, and begins accepting players at the age of eight in all 22 seasonal sports, according to their website.
Claire said her enjoyment and continuation in the program is because of her mother, and the involvement she encouraged in her daughter’s early years as a youth athlete.
“She was one of the main people that helped get Johnson County Developmental Services started, and JCDS is a part of the group we do stuff with — we either go out to dinner or movies and whatever is on the agenda,” Claire said.
Walker and Claire are both on the cheer team together and bring the best energy to the group, Mason said. Their team has been able to compete in state championships, and even won gold one year at the conference.
But cheer isn’t their only involvement with the Special Olympics. Claire and Walker each take pride in being involved in a variety of sports, and are always willing to support each other when the other competes.
Walker said his favorite sport to compete in is shot put in track and field. Claire enjoys many events, but her favorite is cheer.
Mason said she’s been coaching for 25 years, but Claire’s been cheering even longer.
Over time, Walker and Claire said they formed a bond through their sports and community involvement. Their love doesn’t go unnoticed at the center, Mason said. Jokingly, some at the rec center even refer to Claire as a cougar due to the 20 year age gap, but Claire said she doesn’t mind.
The couple is just looking forward to sharing their “I do’s” this fall.
This story was originally published August 12, 2023 at 7:00 AM.
