Special Olympics North Carolina (SONC) will launch its 10-week, at-home fitness program, Partner Up Power Up, with drive-thru distribution events for preregistered participants at locations across the state Feb. 26-28. Following the program’s success last fall, more than 10,000 participants will participate in the program this spring, March 2 – May 14.
SONC’s Partner Up Power Up program is a 10-week Unified Sports® training and fitness plan that can be completed from home, without access to internet. Unified Sports programs bring individuals with and without intellectual disabilities together through sports, helping to create communities of acceptance and respect.
In response to the pandemic, SONC introduced the training challenge for the fall season to replace a traditional, in-person training season. Continuing in the spring, the program also provides an opportunity for the public to support Special Olympics athletes as volunteer training partners or as sponsors. Many Special Olympics Unified Champion Schools® in the state are registered for the program, with designated Zoom sessions scheduled during the school day.
Registered participants have an assigned training team and receive a printed training guide, complete with daily exercises and activities. In addition to a free, 10-week workout routine, participants are provided incentive items and training equipment, access to scheduled weekly workouts from professional athletes and coaches via Zoom and raffle prizes from participating sponsors. Volunteer training partners and Special Olympics athletes are encouraged to communicate regularly throughout the duration of the program.
Materials, including the printed training guide and equipment, will be distributed to preregistered participants this Friday and Saturday at drive-thru events at the locations listed below. For media inquiries regarding the distribution events or Partner Up Power Up, contact SONC Director of Communications Madeline Safrit at msafrit@sonc.net or (919)-719-7662 ext. 110.
Local Programs:
- Caldwell County
- Cumberland County
- Davidson County
- Forsyth County
- Mecklenburg County
- Moore County
- New Hanover County
- Orange County
- Pitt County
About Special Olympics North Carolina
Since 1968, the organization has used the transformative power of sports to improve the lives of children and adults with intellectual disabilities. Nearly 40,000 athletes in North Carolina inspire thousands of coaches, sports officials, local program committee members and event organizers involved in Special Olympics statewide. SONC offers year-round training and competition in 20 Olympic-type sports on local and state levels as well as health and wellness initiatives to improve the health status and increase access to community health resources for individuals with intellectual disabilities. Youth become agents of change through Unified Champion Schools, an education and sports-based program created by Special Olympics to build an inclusive environment among youth with and without intellectual disabilities as well as empower them to become youth leaders and create change in their community. Visit Special Olympics North Carolina at www.specialolympicsnc.com. Engage with us on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and YouTube.
