Staff
The OPP youth summer camp will be held at Sunny Cove again this August, and organizers are looking for sponsors to help kids attend it.
The camp committee has designed a fundraising campaign called “Adopt-A-Camper,” with the aim to raise funds for the 40 youth to go the camp running Aug. 19-24, A/Insp. Steve Shouldice said at Friday morning’s Police Services Board meeting here.
It costs $700 to send a youth to camp for the week.
Out of the 40 kids, seven are from Rainy River District.
Rainy River Resources has confirmed it will sponsor one camper from this area, but the committee is looking to find six more sponsors from Rainy River District.
The committee will be putting out a brochure to explain the program in the near future.
Other details for the initiative are falling in place, thanks to the work of camp committee members A/Insp. Shouldice and regional OPP officers Anne McCoy, Dave Cain, Brian Eschach and Shelley Garr, who have been meeting monthly via teleconference.
For instance, the 10 camp counsellors have been identified from OPP officers around the Northwest Region.
As well, fundraising events have been planned to help raise a portion of the $30,000 necessary to put on the camp.
Two-thirds of this goal already has been achieved thanks to the OPP Youth Foundation, which is an arm’s-length, non-profit charitable organization.
Special Olympics
In related news, funds are rolling in for local Special Olympian David Ducasse.
The Rainy River District OPP detachment “adopted” the Fort Frances resident to attend the Special Olympics 2012 Ontario Provincial Spring Games in Kingston from May 31-June 3.
The OPP has exceeded its goal to raise at least $500 to help out Ducasse, who also is fundraising on his own.
A/Insp. Shouldice noted Sturgeon Creek students read an article about Ducasse in the newspaper and decided they would help him out by holding a bake sale, which raised $200.
He noted the $200 “put us over the top,” adding “anything from now on is going to be gravy.”
Ducasse will be competing in five-pin bowling at the Games.
Anyone interested in helping support Ducasse is asked to visit the Rainy River District OPP detachment or go online to www.specialolympics2012games.com
While at the website, go under the “Adopt An Athlete” program and search for individual fundraiser, “Rainy River District Ontario Provincial Police Detachment.”
