A Special Olympian's Journey: Cole Goering and Coach LaTrelle Cawthon - Episode 22
In this heartwarming episode of The Town Square Podcast, hosts Gabriel Stovall and Trey Bailey sit down for a truly inspiring conversation with US Special Olympian Cole Goering and his incredible coach, LaTrelle Cawthon.
Coach Cawthon, who is also an Adapted Physical Education Teacher for Newton County Schools and the Special Olympics Coordinator for the area, shares her deep passion for supporting athletes with special needs. Together, they discuss Cole’s journey to the 2025 Special Olympics Winter Games in Turin, Italy, where Cole will represent the United States as a member of the Alpine Skiing team.
Gabriel and Trey take time to celebrate Cole's achievement and learn more about his training regimen, which includes intense daily gym sessions to prepare for the games. Cole’s determination and enthusiasm are truly contagious, and this conversation is a must-listen for anyone looking for motivation and inspiration.
But the celebration doesn’t stop there! Cole is set to be one of the Grand Marshals for the upcoming Lion's Club Covington Christmas Parade, happening this Saturday, Dec. 7th at 10:00 AM. The hosts encourage everyone to come out and support Cole, cheer him on, and enjoy this iconic community event. Later that evening, don’t miss Mistletoe Market at Legion Field, where there will be a booth called Cakes & Cookies for Cole. All funds raised at this booth will go toward helping cover the costs of Cole's trip to Italy.
The reason Gabriel and Trey worked quickly to release this episode is to raise awareness about the significant financial commitment it takes for an athlete like Cole to compete in the Winter Games. The total cost for Cole to attend the games is $20,000. Half of that amount goes toward Special Olympics registration fees, and the rest will cover the travel and expenses for Cole and his family to be part of this life-changing experience.
To help make this dream a reality, we are asking everyone to listen to the episode and, more importantly, click the link to donate to Cole’s GoFundMe page:
Additionally, we want to shine a light on the amazing work of Coach LaTrelle Cawthon. Her unwavering commitment to over 600 special needs students in Newton County Schools is extraordinary. Through her leadership, the Special Olympics events in Newton County have become a cherished tradition for students and their families. Coach Cawthon is truly a rock star, and her support of Cole, along with her dedication to all the students she serves, deserves high praise.
Follow along with all of the Special Olympic activities in Newton County by liking and following their Facebook page: Newton County Schools - Special Olympics
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Tune in to this episode and support Cole’s journey as he heads to Italy to bring home the gold. Let’s rally together as a community to help make his dream come true!
