WAIPOULI — Three Kaua‘i Police Department officers have completed their three-day stint atop Safeway’s roof to help raise funds for Kaua‘i Special Olympics. At 6 a.m. Thursday, KPD Sgts. Mike Gordon and Ezra Kanoho and Det. Paul Applegate were raised
WAIPOULI — Three Kaua‘i Police Department officers have completed their three-day stint atop Safeway’s roof to help raise funds for Kaua‘i Special Olympics.
At 6 a.m. Thursday, KPD Sgts. Mike Gordon and Ezra Kanoho and Det. Paul Applegate were raised by an Oceanic Time Warner Cable boom truck to the rooftop of the Safeway store at Kaua‘i Shopping Village.
This is the same scenario as previous years where the trio spends three days and two nights up there as part of the annual Cop on Top fundraising program for Special Olympics Kaua‘i.
“This year, people have some new ways of getting involved,” said Jocelyn Barriga, the Special Olympics Kaua‘i coordinator.
People can contribute online, she said, by visiting www.firstgiving.com/copontopkauai. Shelly Gerardo, the Special Olympics Kaua‘i public relations officer, can count those funds toward the overall total.
Barriga said this year’s goal of $25,000 is the same as it was last year.
“With more children joining Special Olympics Kaua‘i each year, and programs for our athletes being funded soley by fundraising, donations are needed now more than ever,” said Gerardo.
Barriga said athletes from Waimea High School spent all morning Thursday helping man fishnets.
“They were in their school uniforms and looked very impressive greeting shoppers,” Barriga said.
Julia Peck was joined by her mother as she stood along the access road to the Kaua‘i Village Shopping Center, manning a fishnet to catch contributions.
“We’ve been here from 10 a.m.,” Peck’s mother said. “Special Olympics Kaua‘i is such a good program; they need to be helped. The first time we attended one of the Kaua‘i games, we just cried when we saw the athletes realize that people in the stands were there to cheer them on.”
Special Olympics’ mission is to provide year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities, giving them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy and participate in a sharing of gifts, skills and friendship with their families, other Special Olympic athletes and the community.
For more information, call 652-8662.
