Skipper ‘carrying the torch’ for Horry County Special Olympics

“Mama” Peggy Blaine saw a spark in Christopher Skipper’s eye when he’d work with children with special needs.

“She was telling me each one of us is put here for a reason and that we have a duty to fulfill, and she told me that my duty was to serve others and to help others see that they mean something to this world,” Skipper said of the conversation he had with Blaine about two years ago.

Two weeks after that talk, Blaine died suddenly. Skipper was asked to speak at her funeral.

“When I went to speak at her funeral, I thought, ‘What in the world am I going to say?’” Skipper said. “When I was reflecting on what I was going to say, that last week I worked with Peggy, that last moment we had by ourselves, in a lot of ways she was passing that torch on to me because she knew her time was running out here on Earth and she needed somebody else to carry that flame on.”

That’s exactly what Skipper has been doing since Blaine’s passing. Skipper has been involved with the Horry County Area 16 Special Olympics for nine years — a program that started with Blaine and about 20 kids at the time.

“From there, my passion for it just grew immensely, because a lot of times special education kids don’t get to have that opportunity,” Skipper said. “It’s about making them believe in themselves, but also letting them know that others believe in them too.”

Linda Gurley, a coach with Area 16, said Skipper is a jack of all trades when it comes to helping the athletes, including driving the school bus, coaching his own training club, and overseeing all the other coaches

“Skipper... is the most dedicated volunteer I have ever met,” Gurley said. “He attends just about every training session for our athletes. Several training sessions are often running at the same time so this means he is giving up several nights and weekends to assure our athletes receive the best possible training. He supports the coaches by getting us equipment we need for training, arranges places for us to hold training sessions and deals with any issues we may have.”

Gurley said Skipper makes sure all athletes are registered, with proper medical forms and consent forms, and gives out all room assignments. She said he also works at fundraising events to raise money so Area 16 athletes can train and travel to compete.

“He knows the athletes and they love him,” Gurley said. “Many think of him as a brother.”

Skipper admits he loves to watch the athletes, who never knew how to hold a ball or a golf club, place in the top level at state competitions.

It’s their success and a button Skipper wears that reminds him of “Mama Peggy” that has a phrase she was known for — “It was for the kids” — printed on it that keeps him going.

“I like seeing the progress that the athletes make on a weekly basis,” Skipper said. “It’s the smiles of the athletes and sincerity that Mama Peggy put in my heart that keeps me going strong for these athletes.

“I tell the kids all the time, ‘She’s still here. The ones who really knew her... I let them know she’s still here with us. We might not be able to see her, but she’s here in spirit. Always remember that and do your best for her.”

This story was originally published December 18, 2015 at 8:42 PM with the headline "Skipper ‘carrying the torch’ for Horry County Special Olympics."