A Finish Line Worth Celebrating

Thank You, Betty & Wayne Hackett

February 23rd, 2026

At Cat 2 cross country skiing, the snow was never just snow. It was a starting line, a challenge, a victory lap waiting to happen. And for decades, standing steady at the heart of it all were Betty and Wayne Hackett.

Their story with Special Olympics New Hampshire stretches all the way back to 1986, when Winter Games were still held at Bretton Woods. They first volunteered at Cat 2 cross country skiing under the leadership of Linda and Lucy, long before they would one day step into the management team role themselves.

Betty and Wayne originally connected to SONH through the Telephone Pioneers, a volunteer group through the telephone company where they both worked. That introduction to volunteering would end up shaping far more than a winter competition schedule. It shaped their lives.

In fact, before Betty and Wayne were even married, Wayne brought Betty home to meet his parents. When they walked in the door, Betty immediately greeted Wayne’s sister with a bright hello. They already knew each other through Betty’s volunteering with SONH. Wayne’s sister was an athlete with the Laconia Lakers. Wayne’s mom took one look at the connection and reportedly told him he just had to keep Betty.

He did. They were married in 1988. And through it all, Special Olympics remained part of their shared story.

In 2010, after more than two decades of volunteering at Cat 2, Betty and Wayne stepped into the role of management team volunteers, overseeing Category 2 cross country skiing. For the next many years, they led the competition with consistency, care, and an unwavering commitment to our athletes.

Category 2 did not run smoothly by accident. It ran smoothly because of early mornings, careful course checks, thoughtful organization, and the kind of leadership that makes everyone feel steady. They built more than a race course. They built a culture. Athletes knew they would be welcomed. Coaches knew their competitors would be supported. Volunteers knew they were part of something meaningful.

One of their greatest legacies is the core volunteer team they cultivated year after year. They did not just fill roles. They built relationships. They inspired volunteers to return winter after winter, creating a Cat 2 team that felt connected, capable, and proud of the work they were doing together.

Betty also gave her time beyond the competition venue, serving on the SONH Board of Directors and helping guide the organization she cared so deeply about.

When asked what kept them coming back for nearly four decades, the answer was simple. The people. The athletes. The hugs. The camaraderie.

And perhaps no story captures that spirit better than one of Betty’s favorite memories from a Winter Games dance. She and Wayne were on the dance floor together when an athlete tapped Wayne on the shoulder and asked, “Do you mind if I dance with your woman?” Wayne smiled and said, “Of course.”

That is Special Olympics. Joy. Respect. Community. Laughter. A dance floor where everyone belongs.

While Betty and Wayne have retired from leading Category 2 cross country skiing at Winter Games, their impact is permanently woven into the snow tracks, the volunteer team they built, and the generations of athletes who competed under their steady leadership.

And thankfully, we are not saying goodbye entirely. We will still see them at State Summer Games, bringing that same commitment and heart to running long jump.

This is not just a thank you for one season. It is a thank you for nearly forty years of service. For early mornings and frozen fingers. For finish line cheers and dance floor memories. For building something that will last long after the snow melts.

Betty and Wayne, thank you for every mile. 💙