A Hawaii Police Department officer taking part in the Special Olympics West Hawaii Cop on Top event lowers a bucket to collect donations Friday at Walmart in Kailua-Kona.
Special Olympics West Hawaii athlete Relyn Shook accepts a donation from a shopper as he leaves Walmart Friday in Kailua-Kona.
Big Island police officers and Special Olympics West Hawaii kicked off their annual Cop on Top event Friday morning in Kailua-Kona with hopes of securing $15,000 to support local Special Olympians.
Hawaii Police Department officers and Special Olympics West Hawaii athletes and volunteers will collect donations through 10 p.m. today at the Kona Walmart. On Saturday, donations can be dropped off at the entrance from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.; and on Sunday from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The event also features for-donation games and photos with Auto Body Hawaii’s “Big Red Wagon.” A for-donation Zumba dance class will also be offered at 6 p.m. today at Walmart to support Special Olympics West Hawaii.
All money raised during the three-day Cop on Top event supports about 30 athletes who participate in Special Olympics West Hawaii, which spans Kohala, Kona and Ka‘u. As of about 10 a.m. Friday, more than $1,200 had already been raised.
Special Olympics, modeled after the Olympic Games, provides year-round training and competitive sports for physically or mentally challenged athletes. Teams compete in games on the Big Island and Maui to qualify for state games on Oahu, where Special Olympics athletes compete for medals.
The organization’s annual budget runs about $50,000; and the Cop on Top event serves as one of the organization’s largest fundraisers, with the other being its Fueling Dreams campaign.
For more information, visit sowh.org.
