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Service Team Melissa Lucia and Winger were nominated by South Bay Chapter to carry the
Olympic Flame in the Olympic Torch Relay. The criteria for nomination were people who
inspire others; who serve the community in an exemplary manner; who overcame adversity;
and who embody the Olympic Spirit.
Melissa certainly qualifies on all points. She was born prematurely and as a result
developed Cerebral Palsy but she has never let her disability prevent her from enjoying
activities with her nondisabled peers. When she was five, she fought and won a battle with
Leukemia and is now considered cured. Then as an adolescent, she overcame anorexia.
Melissa is a wheelchair athlete and has numerous medals from regional and national
competitions in wheelchair sports. Last fall, she went to Brisbane, Australia with the
U.S. Junior Wheelchair Sports Team and came home with four gold medals. |
| She and Winger are active volunteers with the
South Bay Chapter in participating in local fund raisers and in educating the public about
CCI. She also volunteers at the Santa Clara Valley Medical Center's Neonatal
Intensive Care Unit where she helps nurture the babies. In addition, it is comforting to
the parents of these preemies to meet a grown up preemie who is leading a full, active
life. Melissa and Winger graduated together from Santa Teresa High School and both are
currently attending West Valley College. To South Bay's breeder caretakers, puppy raisers,
and volunteers, Melissa is an inspiration for us to keep doing what we're doing. Melissa
and Winger are a great example of what CCI is all about. |
| To our delight, they were selected to be one of the 11,500 Torch Bearers
to carry the flame from Atlanta to Salt Lake City, Utah, the site of the 2002 Winter
Olympics. Melissa and Winger shared this honor with many current and former Olympic Gold
Medal winners, professional athletes, celebrities, and thousands of local inspirational
people in communities across the country. Among them were a CCI Skilled Companion Team in
Ohio and a CCI Breeder Caretaker/Puppy Raiser in Southern CA. |
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| SBC
cheering section |
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| Linda with Melissa
waiting to begin |
Beginning the relay |
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| Preparing to transfer
flame |
Melissa with next
relay runner |
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| Melissa and Winger did their leg on the 44th day of the Relay, January
18, 2002. The flame was transferred to Melissa's torch in front of James Lick High School
in San Jose. Seventeen South Bay Chapter members including two CCI Breeders, three
Facility Dogs, two Service Dogs and two pups-in-training were part of the large crowd
there to share this special moment with Melissa and Winger. |
| Click here to see more pictures.
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