Cops Climb For Special Olympics

The men and women in blue will be climbing the heights at neighborhood stores this weekend to benefit Special Olympics Hawaii.

The annual Cop on Top promotion can be found locally at Aikahi Park and Kaneohe Bay shopping centers as the officers eat, sleep and collect money for Oahu’s Special Olympians. The volunteers will climb a 14-foot scaffolding beginning at 6 a.m. Friday and will stay there until 2 p.m. Sunday. Apparently it works, because more than $1,620,000 has come in during the past 11 years for SOH programs.

“Participating in Cop on Top is a big sacrifice for our officers — giving up their free time with their families, friends and loved ones to stay atop scaffolding, exposed to the elements, raising funds and awareness for our local Special Olympics athletes,” said SOH president and CEO Nancy Bottelo. “Every day our athletes face obstacles head-on, and these officers are showing their solidarity.”

Bottelo, a Kaneohe resident, urges everyone to turn out in support. Cop on Top also will be staged at Koko Marina Center and at Sam’s Club and Walmart stores statewide.

SOH provides year-round sports train- ing opportunities to more than 2,700 athletes at no cost to them or their families. For more information, call 943-8808.