Published: September 03, 2008 09:40 pm      

Edmond police help raise funds for Special Olympics

EDMOND — Olympian Michael Phelps won eight gold medals and the heart of a 10-year-old Edmond girl.

Caitlin Randall could relate to Phelps. Caitlin is a Special Olympics athlete through Angie Debo Elementary School who competes in the softball throw and the 50-yard dash.

“She loved Michael Phelps,” said Chris Randall, Caitlin’s mother. “To her it was the Special Olympics. They’re still competing and accomplishing goals.”

This weekend, the Edmond Police Department and other law enforcement agencies will team up to raise funds that will benefit Special Olympics athletes like Caitlin.

Edmond Detective Aaron Randall, Caitlin’s father, said EPD volunteers will collect donations from customers and the general public as officers eat, sleep and play on the rooftops of the Krispy Kreme store at Penn and Memorial.

Brittany Meadors, Special Olympics Oklahoma event coordinator, said other metro, county and state law enforcement agencies will be at the north Oklahoma City store and at the I-240 and Western store.

At the Penn and Memorial store, NASCAR will have a racing car and the Oklahoma National Guard will have its rock climbing wall. To help draw attention, the EPD will have a car wrecked in a DUI incident several years ago, Detective Randall said.

Meadors said some agencies bring motorcycles and SWAT unit vehicles to stores. The Oklahoma City Police Department is bringing a Hummer to the north Oklahoma City store, she said.

Members of the law enforcement community will be out at the various Krispy Kreme stores from 7 a.m. to midnight on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Individuals who donate $5-$9.99 will receive a free original glazed doughnut and a medium coffee. A $10-$24.99 donation will net a free dozen original glazed doughnuts. A $25-$49.99 donation will net a free dozen original glazed doughnuts and a Cops on Doughnut Shops T-shirt.

Donations of $50 or more will net a free coupon for a dozen original glazed doughnuts every month for a year and a Cops on Doughnut Shops T-shirt.

“Special Olympics has tremendous volunteers and our tremendous law enforcement community helps us raise funds year round,” Meadors said.

Last year, the event raised more than $257,000 nationwide, according to a Krispy Kreme news release. More than 60 stores across the country are hosting events this year.

Meadors said Special Olympics Oklahoma serves more than 9,200 children and adults with intellectual disabilities in Oklahoma.

“Special Olympics is a very big family,” Meadors said.

Intellectual disabilities are seven times more prevalent than deafness, 10 times more prevalent than physical disabilities, nine times more prevalent than cerebral palsy and 35 times more prevalent than muscular dystrophy.

Meadors said Special Olympics’ goal is to educate every person with intellectual disabilities about the benefits of the Special Olympics program and help them live healthier lives.

Chris Randall said the organization has made a big difference in the development of Caitlin, who may someday become a Special Olympics ambassador.



FOR MORE information about Cops on Doughnut Shops and Special Olympics Oklahoma, visit www.sook.org.