Monday's Internet Edition, May 12, 2008.
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Features Editor
- Sue Nance spent 10 years crippled and unable to walk.
Now 64 — she’ll turn 65 in July — the Silver Valley resident is an avid line-dancer. She is Miss Senior Davidson County, and is also the active ambassador for this year’s Davidson County Senior Games.
In 1991, Nance was diagnosed with a muscle disease. She was medicated, but an allergic reaction destroyed bones in her legs, and robbed her of her ability to walk.
Now, 55 trips to the hospital and five surgeries later, she line dances at least four times a week and enjoys an active life as a healthy senior — and that’s after it took her two years to learn how to walk without her cane.
“Once I was walking again, I wanted to go dance with my husband Forrest,” Nance said. “At first, it was hard. I think they started up a beginner’s class just because of me! My husband used to joke that it was like dragging around a big sack of potatoes.”
But that so-called sack of potatoes is quite a stepper — Nance was part of the Davidson County Follies when the line-dancing group was awarded first place and Best of Show in last year’s North Carolina Senior Games.
“Being able to be as active as I am just means the world to me,” she said. “I used to have to sit in the car while my husband went into stores to get things, and I’d see people walking around outside, and I’d think to myself, ‘You just don’t know how lucky you are.’”
Nance said seniors now are as healthy at age 65 as their grandparents were at age 45.
“We’re a healthy, go-getter age group,” she said with a laugh. “If I can be active and overcome my hurdles, anybody can. It’s a personal mission to me, and it’s so very important that everybody is as active as they can be.”
Nance said the Davidson County Senior Games will even move into the county’s nursing homes.
“Everybody can be active in some way, even those who are wheelchair bound or otherwise disabled,” she said. “We’ve got all sorts of games and events they can take part in — and they’ll be rewarded with a ribbon for their efforts.”
Nance said as a senior, she has “never had so much fun” in her life.
“My life has been an adventure,” she joked. “It has not happened — it has been a happening. I’m happy and healthy, and so very proud to be this year’s active Senior Games ambassador.”
The Davidson County Senior Games have been held since 1989. Then, the games had just 25 competitors — last year, 151 Davidson County seniors participated.
This year’s games are scheduled for April 25 to May 5, for individuals who are 55 years of age or older.
Seniors compete in age groups of five-year increments, and always with athletes of their own gender. Age groups are 55-59, 60-64, 65-69, 70-74, 75-79, 80-84, 85-90, 95-99 and 100-plus.
Sporting events include Badminton, basketball, Billiards, bowling, croquet, various field events, football throwing, golf, horseshoes, softball throwing, spin-casting, swimming, table tennis, tennis, and various track-and-field events.
The Silver Arts are a celebration of creative expression, and feature categories such as literary arts (essays, short stories, life experiences and poetry); visual arts (acrylics, drawing, mixed media, oil, pastels, photography, sculpture, and watercolor); and so-called “heritage arts” (basketweaving, china painting, crocheting, jewelcraft, knitting, pottery, quilting, rug-making, painting, stained glass, tatting and needlelace, weaving, woodcarving, and woodworking).
There is also a category for performing arts such as comedy and drama, dance, instrumental talent, vocal talent and line-dancing.
Registration deadline is April 13, and the cost is $7. Entry forms are available at the Davidson County Senior Center on West Colonial Drive in Thomasville, and also at the Lexington center.
Forms are also available at all city and county recreation departments.
To be eligible for the games, you must be 55 years of age or older, and have been a resident of Davidson County for at least three consecutive months.
For more information on how to register, call 474-2755.
The Senior Games are hosted annually by Davidson County Senior Services, the Davidson County Recreation Department, the Thomasville Parks and Recreation Department, and the Lexington Parks and Recreation department.
Official Senior Games gold, silver and bronze medals are presented to the men and women’s finalists in each category.
The kick-off ceremony for the Games is set for 8 a.m. May 1 at the Central Recreation Center in Thomasville. Opening Ceremonies, complete with a torch runner and parade of athletes, will take place there that morning.
Closing Ceremonies are scheduled for 10 a.m. Friday, May 5 in the Lexington YMCA.
This year, Thomasville will play host to the Opening Ceremonies, horseshoes and basketball events, as well as track and field events, table tennis, and swimming.
(March 16)