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ROY -- This week's High 5 recipient is an unsung hero who has a big heart and an unstoppable spirit. A neighbor, Catherine Sumner, nominated Tracey Scadden of Roy for the honor.
"She's an amazing woman," Catherine said. "She goes above and beyond doing everything."
"Everything" includes serving the scouts in her community, caring for her grandchildren, and motivating her friends to accomplish the seemingly impossible. Nine years ago Tracey did just that when she met Cindee Stanley, a woman who loved to exercise before she lost her eyesight as a result of a car accident.
Tracey is a humble lady who helps everyone she can. She deserves to be publicly acknowledged for all she does.
–Catherine Sumner
Tracey said, "When I found out about Cindee I called her up and I said, ‘You don't know me and I don't know you, but I'm going to train you to do a triathlon and we're going to Seattle to do it."
Cindee said she was excited. "But when I hung up the phone with her I was like, "How am I going to swim? I have an arm that doesn't work. How am I going to bike? I can't see."
She did it with the help of a friend. Together Tracey and Cindee trained. On a tandem bike, Tracey literally guided her friend. She did the same when they ran.
"We have something sort of like a belt and it's hooked around her waist. I hold onto it and I run with her," Tracey explained.
They completed that triathlon. Cindee told us, "It was fun. It was like the best thing that had ever happened."
Last month they finished their sixth Ragnar Relay together. And they've already signed up for next year.
Tracey's husband, Bob Scadden, said, "It's amazing how they've become good friends for so long. These girls just amaze me. There's nothing they can't do."
"I slow Tracey down, I'm sure," Cindee said, "but she's patient, thank goodness."
Tracey's patience shines through in other ways as well. Her 10-year-old grandson Brogan is deaf, blind, and needs constant nursing care. Tracey spent the past month caring for Brogan and his siblings while his mom and dad took a vacation.
Mom Mindi Koegel said, "She wants him to go out and experience everything, whereas my husband and I like to keep him in a bubble."
"She's really good with him," Mindi added.
Catherine said, "I see how she interacts with her grandson and with Cindee. She always thinks of others before she thinks of herself, and I just love her to death."
Tracey received a gift basket from our High 5 sponsors at Les Schwab. If you know someone who deserves a High 5, nominate them here.
