A Dash for Dad: Auburn Special Olympics Star Takes Home Gold at USA Games
AUBURN, Ind. (WPTA) - Ashlyn Heller has competed for DeKalb Special Olympics for over a decade, and she participates in every sport the organization has to offer.
Heller played for DeKalb County’s basketball team that took home a national championshiop at the USA Games in 2018.
This past June, she looked to capture more medals in track and field at the 2022 USA Games in Orlando.
Heller hoped her father could coach her at the Games.
Kevin Heller did train with Ashlyn as long as he could, but in November 2021, he was diagnosed with terminal liver cancer.
He passed away in early January. Ashlyn stepped away from the track for a while, but eventually got back into training for the USA Games, determined to win for her dad.
Kevin wouldn’t get to coach Ashlyn in Orlando, but he still had a presence there.
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