Calgary Law Enforcement Team Up Again with Local Afghan Community for Fundraiser

 

For the second year, members of Alberta’s law enforcement community have partnered up with the local Afghan community to raise funds for athletes with developmental disabilities in their homeland.

 

Tomorrow, Saturday, Sept. 7, 2013, more than 100 law enforcement officers, local Afghans and supporters with The Centre for Newcomers, will play in a four-on-four ball hockey tournament, with all funds raised going to Special Olympics Afghanistan.

 

The idea for the charity tournament came from Calgary Police Service Det. John Langford, who while serving an International Peace Operations mission in Kabul, Afghanistan became aware of a major funding shortfall impacting Special Olympics athletes in that country.

 

An avid supporter of the Alberta Law Enforcement Torch Run (LETR) for Special Olympics, Det. Langford decided to rally some of his fellow officers in Kabul and host a ball hockey tournament with funds going directly towards Special Olympics Afghanistan. The tournament raised $550, with an additional $5,000 donated by a private benefactor.

 

After hearing of Det. Langford’s efforts, his colleagues with Alberta LETR decided to team up with Calgary’s Afghan community to raise additional funds to sustain the organization.

 

Last year’s tournament raised more than $10,000, which was donated to Special Olympics athletes in the devastated country. Now back from the mission, Det. Langford will be doing the ceremonial ball drop at this year’s event.

 

Saturday’s tournament will take place from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., at the CPS Westwinds Campus parking lot, 5111 47 St. N.E. The official opening ceremonies begins at 11 a.m., with remarks from several VIPs.

 

Members of the public and media are welcome to come and support the participants.

 

Along with the tournament, there will be a free BBQ with halal meat, and traditional food supplied by the local Afghan community.