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Blind Paralympic Swimmer Provides Shoes to Homeless

  • Veronica Neffinger

    Veronica Neffinger wrote her first poem at age seven and went on to study English in college, focusing on 18th century literature. When she is not listening to baseball games, enjoying the…

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  • Updated Sep 06, 2016

A young blind paralympic swimmer is not only showcasing her athletic talents; she is also putting her Christian faith into practice.

According to ChristianToday.com, McClain Hermes is currently in Rio de Janeiro for the paralympic games. At 15 years old, Hermes is the youngest member of Team USA’s paralympic team.

Hermes will compete in the 100-meter breaststroke, 400-meter freestyle, and 100 meter backstroke events.

Her motto, a reflection of her religious beliefs, is “swim by faith, not by sight,” a reference to 2 Corinthians 5:7.

Hermes is not only a talented swimmer, however. She has a heart for those less fortunate.

"My father, Matt Hermes, and I founded Shoes for the Souls in 2009,” she said. “Shoes for the Souls donate shoes to the Atlanta Mission and we have collected over 15,000 pairs of shoes since we began the program seven years ago. We are constantly collecting shoes for the mission to be donated each winter."

Even though Hermes faces challenges by being blind, she doesn’t waste time feeling sorry for herself.

"I've turned my disability into my ability," she said. "Bad things have happened to me, but you can't let that hold you down if you have something that you love."

 

Publication date: September 6, 2016