Special Olympics athlete laid to rest

Cuthbert Michael of Chateaubelair lived the Special Olympics motto: Let me win, but if I cannot win let me be brave in the attempt.

The Special Olympics athlete, who represented St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) at the 2003 World Special Olympics Summer Game in Dublin, Ireland and in California, USA in 2015, where he medalled on both occasions, put down his Bocce sticks permanently and was laid to rest last Sunday, April 10 at the Fitz Hughes cemetery.

The sport of Bocce was his favourite and he was an avid player. Bocce coach, Terrance Davis told SEARCHLIGHT that “ He was always willing to do more things, try more techniques, he was willing to listen and learn and to give advice to his other team mates.”

In a release, Special Olympics SVG said , “He was always present at National Games over the years,” and “was the life of the party as he never failed to regale his team-mates with stories about the latest happenings in his village, whenever they would meet for training”.

Travelling 22 miles to Kingstown for training, ‘Donald’ often had to overnight in the capital with other team mates from the same area.

“He was certainly into the latest styles and fashion as was noted in his outfits from head to toe,” Special Olympics SVG recounts of ‘Donald’s attire.

Special Olympics is global organisation that changes lives by promoting understanding, acceptance and inclusion among people with and without intellectual disabilities, offering year round training and competition.

While he was fully engaged in the local Special Olympics programme since the 1990’s Donald had also acquired a range of skills over his lifetime which helped him earn a living as a self-employed individual.

He was a handy man, capable of laying tiles, undertake electrical work- which included wiring houses and effecting radio and television repairs, among other things.

“A lot of the skills he acquired, he acquired on his own,” Davis said.

Special Olympics SVG said “ Donald will be missed by everyone whose paths he has crossed.

“The Board of Directors of Special Olympics St. Vincent and the Grenadines, members of staff, volunteers and athletes extend our heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of Cuthbert “Donald” Michael”.