Special Olympics thunder of wheels set for Sunday

LIHU‘E — The glitter of chrome and the thunder of motorcycles and cars will wake the island Sunday when Special Olympics of Kaua‘i hosts its 10th annual Benefit Ride at the Kaua‘i War Memorial Convention Hall.

“This is our most popular event of the year and everyone is invited to participate in The Ride, or come down to see all of these beautiful machines in the same place at the same time,” said Shelly Gerardo of Special Olympics Kaua‘i. “Plus, there are a lot of great offerings at the silent auction and lunch is also available.”

Registration for motorcycles, hotrods, classic cars, imports and the general public opens from 8:45 to 9:45 a.m. for those who did not take advantage of the pre-registration event last weekend at the Kukui Grove Center.

The convoy leaves the convention hall parking lot promptly at 10 a.m. and will travel to the Westside, returning to the convention hall for lunch.

The silent auction will be available from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and lunch will be available from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

A minimum $20 donation earns the contributor a free commemorative event T-shirt or tank top as well as a chance to qualify for lucky number prizes.

Additionally, participants wearing a Special Olympics Benefit Ride T-shirt from 2002 through 2007 can earn an additional 10 lucky number tickets in celebration of the event’s 10th anniversary.

Over the past 40 years, Special Olympics has grown from a modest program serving local athletes to become the world’s largest movement dedicated to promoting respect, acceptance, inclusion and human dignity for people with intellectual disabilities through sports.

Special Olympics is a movement through which the power of sports transforms the lives of people with intellectual disabilities and also unites everyone by fostering community-building and civil society.

Call Gerardo at 639-3398 for more information, or call Jocelyn Barriga at 652-8662 to enroll an athlete or to volunteer with Special Olympics Kaua‘i.