Debbie Hightower was thrilled when she heard two new people were joining the SPARC – Sports, Arts and Recreation of Chattanooga – team she co-founded. The group, whose members range in age from about 7 years old up to the 60s, has helped hundreds of disabled people take part in competitive and recreational activities in an integrated setting since 1991, and Hightower was eager for its newest members to get started.
What she didn’t expect was that those two members would be well into their golden years.
Bryan Knight is 91; Wendy Williams turns 86 next week.
“They’re just gung-ho,” Hightower said. “I’m glad they’re motivated to get out and exercise.”
Knight joined SPARC to ride his recumbent bike despite having vertigo, and Williams joined to help her be competitive in the 40th anniversary of the Tennessee State Parks Running Tour despite a bad hip and hearing loss.