By Staff
Kim West
FLORENCE – The delegations from Burns Nursing Home and Terrace Manor Nursing and Rehab captured 11 medals and two awards at the annual Northwest Alabama Golden Games hosted by Florence Christian Academy Nov. 6.
This year's Games, which are sponsored by the FCA Student Government Association, included more than 200 athletes from six nursing homes throughout the region. It was originally scheduled for Oct. 24 but inclement weather caused the event to be postponed until Thursday.
The day-long competition had 10 events, including golfing, bowling, horseshoe pitch, beanbag toss, basketball throw, volleyball, walking relay, wheelchair race with hands, wheelchair race with feet and a 25-yarn dash.
The Burns delegation included 19 competitors that claimed seven gold, silver or bronze medals, while Nermin Shahian won a spirit award.
Michelle Arrington won gold in the hands-only wheelchair race, while Madeline Lerch had a gold finish in bowling and John Foster, who also won a medal last year, finished first in the feet-only wheelchair race.
George Treadway captured silver in golf and a bronze in the hands-only wheelchair race, while John Quinn was third in the feet-only wheelchair race. Lydia Hester earned bronze finish in the 25-yard yarn dash, and Hugh Frisbee had a third-place finish in golf.
Dorothy Sutton, Mary Springhart, Eula Smith, Leo Shahian, Beatrice Ricketts, Leon McAllister, Howard Kimbrough, Hettie Johnson, Frances Holden, Clara Brown and Abbie Adams also competed for the Burns delegation, which was accompanied by more than a half-dozen employees.
Lisa Mobley, a social worker at Burns, said the residents regularly participate in a monthly activity outside the nursing home and particularly enjoy the Golden Games.
"We've started doing a monthly outing for the residents, and we try to take everyone who is physically able and doesn't have to be transported by a lift." Mobley said. "They get excited about going to the Games, and they talk about this all year."
Two athletes from Terrace Manor earned a total of three medals as Cassie Watson won silver in bowling and bronze in the horseshoes competition, and Willodean Sutton claimed the bronze in bowling. Sarah Bush took home a spirit award, which was won by fellow resident Hugh Edgar last year.
Bernice King, Eva Scott, Yvonne Bagwell, Katie Fisher, Era Ray, Vera Green and Edgar also competed for Terrace Manor delegation, which also included five employees.
Wendell Greenleaf, activities director and a CNA at Terrace Manor, said he was proud of the delegation's showing and is already looking forward to next year.
"It was an amazing experience for Sarah Bush to get the spirit award, and that meant a lot to us," Greenleaf said. "We had pom-poms and she was shaking those and cheering on her teammates, and she was also cheering on the other nursing homes.
"I just thank the senior class at Florence Christian Academy for all that they do and look forward to returning next year because they make it a wonderful experience."