Arc fundraising for trip to softball invite

Published 6:08 pm Thursday, June 9, 2011

ARC Mower County hopes to raise some money in short order. Their members are getting really good at softball.

Mower County members of ARC have the chance of a lifetime coming up: 15 members of the local ARC softball team will go to the National Invitational Softball Championships this August.

“What an experience,” said Dawn Helgeson, director of ARC Mower County.

Email newsletter signup

This is the first time an entire team of Mower County special athletes has been chosen to compete at the national level in softball. Three Mower County players competed for the Minnesota team last year and placed second, according to Helgeson. She can remember watching the awards ceremony on television and witnessing how touching the ceremony was, how important it was to the athletes.

“It was just spectacular,” she said.

Yet busing and transportation issues threaten to ground Mower County ARC members before they can swing for the fences. Helgeson estimates transportation costs alone could total about $3,500. That’s why ARC Mower County will host a luncheon from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday, June 10 at ARC headquarters in Austin. There will be salads, open face sandwiches, cookies and drinks available at $7 per person. In addition, ARC Mower County is starting a Mile of Quarters fundraiser Friday as well. Donors can contribute $3.25, the length in quarters of a foot, and have their donations recognized by ARC. The goal is to sell 5,280 feet, which would provide ARC with more than $17,000 in needed funds for services for physically and developmentally disabled residents.