Amy Geldean, 13, eighth-grader,
It’s a cool crisp day and the sun is shining brightly: A perfect setting as a wave of red shirts line up behind the white line, next to runners from rival schools. The Channahon cross country girls team is ready for the challenge. Depending on the race, runners will face a mile, perhaps two.
Channahon coach Michael Devine shouts “Ready, set.” A gunshot gives the “OK” for the runners to take off. Fellow team members, parents and siblings are all cheering the teams on.
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Within several minutes the first of the runners will cross the finish line. Everyone cheers until the last runner comes in; no matter if it’s the home team or not.
When you think that the race is over, a red dot in the distance comes around the corner. It’s Amy Geldean. She may be last, but she is not a quitter. She may be a distance from the finish line, but she can clearly hear her teammates, friends and parents, including her own, encouraging her to give all she has to complete the race.
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As she crosses the finish line, there is clapping and cheering. Even some parents are in tears. That is tears of joy. Everyone is proud of Geldean’s accomplishment.
“I always give 110 percent in everything I do,” Geldean said. “I have been on the cross country team since sixth grade. I love to run.”
Geldean does not let her disability hinder her in any way. She has a mild case of cerebral palsy. One would never know this. Geldean is a very active child and is very involved in both school and community activities.
“Having CP does not hinder me,” Geldean said. “I get out there and do my best at trying everything. My parents are always there for me.”
Past enrollment in the therapeutic therapy program through the , has helped Geldean build her core muscles, strengthen her legs and has given her confidence to participate in activities alongside her classmates.
Recently, she was inducted into the BETA Club at school. This organization promotes academic achievement, character, service and leadership. Geldean and fellow members will be participating in the 28th annual Channooka Area 5K CROP Hunger Walk on Oct. 2. Geldean’s goal is raise $1,500 for the charity.
Throughout the year, Geldean is an assistant in the school library. She helps classmates find books, she checks out the books and she organizes the books on the shelves. When she reads, she engrosses herself in mysteries.
In the spring, she plans to run distance for the track team. She said it is a little different running on the track as opposed to a field of grass and through forest preserve areas as she does during cross-country season.
Geldean is not shy about getting up in front of a crowd. She is a member of the school’s speech team. She also had a part in the school play last May. She is considering being part of the Drama Club again.
Her favorite subjects are science and math. And one day she would like to become a middle school or junior high teacher qualified to teach those subjects. Her backup plan is to be a marine animal trainer at Sea World.
“I love to swim and I love animals,” Geldean said, adding that she has a black Labrador retriever named Juno.
Geldean also enjoys being with her friends, loves to celebrate the holidays with her family and takes pleasure in eating homemade macaroni and cheese.
However, her wish is to one day meet the pop-star singer Ke$ha because she loves her music. Bet the place would Blow if her wish came true.
