Nashua Mentor Hero: Loving parents help special athletes become winners

Don and Cecile Boucher didn’t know their son, Bobby, was autistic until he was a toddler, but they didn’t let it set them back; instead, they embraced his differences and provided a community for their son and other disabled people through Special Olympics. The Bouchers are The Telegraph’s Nashua Mentor Heroes for their coaching efforts and volunteer work within Special Olympics. According to Robin St. Jean, who nominated the couple, they “have devoted hundreds of hours with these adults to support them with pleasure and love.” Their journey started in the 1980s, when they heard about Special Olympics from a priest in Merrimack and became interested for their son. At first, they acted as supportive parents and took Bobby, now age 44, and other disabled members of the community to the events. “We realized that they didn’t really have a social life,” Cecile said.