Meet Jamie Staton's Virtual Running Team: Mile 19

Joshuah Letourneau-Desmond
& Laura Lemire
Name: Joshuah Letourneau-Desmond
Age: 29
Hometown: Newmarket
Local Program: Newmarket Stars
Sports: Athletics & Snowshoeing

Joshuah Letourneau-Desmond has overcome some pretty substantial challenges in his life. Joshuah explains that “when I was a little kid, I had a brain tumor and I was told that I was not supposed to live past ten years old.” Today, at 29, Joshuah is a happy to be alive and competing in Special Olympics.

Joshuah started with Special Olympics when he was just eight years old, when his coach Anne Tufts told him about the program. Joshuah’s favorite thing about Special Olympics is being around his friends and new people. He believes that Special Olympics has provided him with some great opportunities to be social, be physically active, and be competitive. He enjoys the competitions, but sometimes it can be challenging. He explained that, “Every year the competition gets tougher and tougher at the State Games, but I enjoy the challenge.”
Name: Laura Lemire
Age: 29
Hometown: Manchester
Local Program: Manchester
Sports: Athletics & Bowling

Laura Lemire loves both athletics and bowling - but if she had to pick a favorite it would be bowling. Lauara started bowling for Special Olympics three years ago and has had a lot of fun with it. She had bowled before joining Special Olympics, so it came naturally to her. She was asked what her favorite thing about Special Olympics is she said "the State Bowling Tournament because I love to get strikes and spares.” In addition, her mother believes that she enjoys being with her friends at the tournament and winning medals. Her mother went on to say that, “Laura got really excited when she won her first gold medal. She gets excited whenever she wins a medal.” In her time with Special Olympics she has won a bunch of medals and is looking forward to winning many more.
 
Laura has been a part of Special Olympics for around 20 years and she has really enjoyed her time competing. Since joining Special Olympics Laura’s mother has seen a lot of growth in her. She said that, “Laura has a lot of confidence. Socially, it has helped her a lot and she has made a lot of friends and she is with them a lot. Also, the coaches that have worked with Laura have been terrific.”