A Richmond athlete got a very "special" helping hand to make sure he attended the Special Olympics Canada Winter Games in Alberta this week.
Brayden Pawer received almost $1,200 in donations from the British Columbia Association of Chiefs of Police (BCACP).
The support of the 20-year-old athlete was based on a pitch from Deputy Chief Rick Lucy, a BCACP member from the Abbotsford Police Department, who is a longtime supporter of Special Olympics BC.
More than 60 BCACP executive members at a recent meeting in Richmond donated the cash to make sure Pawer enjoyed the experience of competing in the 2012 Games in St. Albert, Alb.
"Most police officers choose a career in law enforcement to help people and build strong communities and those are the same reasons a lot of us get involved in supporting organizations like Special Olympics BC," said Lucy, who will be attending the St. Albert Games as part of the mission staff.
"The generosity of my colleagues on the BCACP executive in supporting Brayden as a competitor was great to see. We wish him the best in St. Albert and we look forward to hearing about his experience when he comes home."
Pawer is one of 16 SOBC Richmond athletes who will be competing in the Games from Feb. 28 to March 3, as proud members of Team BC 2012.
The St. Albert Games will be his second trip to the Games - he competed in 10-pin bowling in the 2010 Games in London, On.
Pawer has been involved in Special Olympics since he was in Grade 8 and says the 2010 Games were his most memorable Special Olympics experience to date.
Many members of BC law enforcement departments, detachments and agencies are part of the BC Law Enforcement Torch Run (LETR), a year-round movement of personnel raising funds and awareness in support of Special Olympics. Hundreds of members from 14 departments and detachments are generously joining the BCACP in supporting Team BC 2012 athletes through the Draft an Athlete program.
