Cops Climb High In Fundraiser

The men and women in blue will be climbing the heights at neighbor- hood stores this weekend to raise support for Special Olympics Hawaii.

The annual Cop on Top promotion can be found at Walmart and Sam’s Club stores statewide, 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 urges everyone to turn out in support of the unique fundraiser. Cop on Top also will be staged at Aikahi Park and Kaneohe Bay shopping centers and at Koko Marina Center.

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