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Fundraiser benefits Special Olympics athletes

By Derrick Forsythe, Record Staff Writer
Posted 11/7/19

Athletes and volunteers from the Special Olympics are in the midst of a busy month of fundraisers and sporting events. And at least one more local teenager will have an opportunity to participate …

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Fundraiser benefits Special Olympics athletes

Posted
By Derrick Forsythe, Record Staff Writer
Athletes and volunteers from the Special Olympics are in the midst of a busy month of fundraisers and sporting events.And at least one more local teenager will have an opportunity to participate following the efforts of Warren County R-III School Resource Officer Kevin Swofford.Modeling the larger idea of the Polar Plunge, he decided to host a fundraiser at Black Hawk Middle School during which he and two administrators would take a dip in a water trough filled with ice water.With students having raised $684, Swofford joined Assistant Principals Brad Ross and Mike McCann in taking the plunge last Wednesday, Feb. 15.“Whichever grade raised the most money got to come to the gym and watch us jump into the ice water,” explained Swofford. “Students in the winning grade got to pick which principals would jump in.”Swofford says he learned of the idea during a trip to Phoenix for the Special Olympics Conference.The fundraising efforts will allow Swofford to take Warrenton High School senior Zach Dunn to the larger Polar Plunge event this Saturday, Feb. 25, at Creve Coeur Lake in Maryland Heights.“Each team will get down there at a specific jump time,” he said. “We’re going down with the thin-blue line shirts on.”Swofford and the local Special Olympics athletes just returned from competing in the regional basketball tournament in Jefferson City last Saturday and will travel to Fort Leonard Wood for state basketball and bowling March 17-18. The state track and field event will be held in June.Swofford, who said he gained an interest in Special Olympics from his father, explained that law enforcement is one of the primary supporters of the organization hosting events like the torch run, Tip-a-Cop and Over the Edge.Swofford and Chief Greg Houdyshell participated in Over the Edge by rapelling 17 stories down the side of the Hyatt Regency Hotel in October.“All the money that’s raised through these events goes back to Special Olympics of Missouri and pays for these kids to do these different activities,” said Swofford.“Our community is 110 percent behind us on anything we do with Special Olympics and raising money.”

Administrators and staff from the Warren County R-III School District jumped into a trough filled with ice water on Wednesday, Feb. 15, as part of a fundraiser for Special Olympics. Pictured in the back row, from left, are Assistant Principal Brad Ross, Assistant Principal Mike McCann and Resource Officer Kevin Swofford. Also pictured are Special Olympics athletes. Record photo/ Derrick Forsythe photo.

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