The Sturgis Buffalo Chip® and participants in its signature Legends Ride are teaming up in a special effort to help Special Olympics in the Black Hills area create a permanent athlete training facility. Buffalo Chip President Rod Woodruff has pledged $100,000 to a fundraising campaign effort by Black Hills Works and Special Olympics to renovate an existing facility in order to meet the growing needs of the organization.
The 127 Special Olympians who are members of the “Rapid City Flame” team have been training in various borrowed locations over the past few years but are now in need of a facility that will offer the team members a sense of permanence and accomplishment. For the past three years, Legends Ride contributions have been used to purchase a van to transport participants to practices and events; now the need for a facility is a priority.
“I couldn’t think of an organization more deserving of our help than Special Olympics,” said Rod Woodruff, Buffalo Chip President. “When the kids come to events, and we see how happy and proud they are to have the van we purchased, it is abundantly evident we are making a difference in their lives and in the Black Hills community. Now they need a place to train, a place where they can feel at home, and we are ready to step up and help them with that too.”
Black Hills Works, an organization which provides support for Black Hills adults with disabilities, offered to share their gym with the youth, but the building is in need of major updating. The funds pledged by the Buffalo Chip’s Legends Ride will allow BHW clients to use the renovated gym on a daily basis while giving priority scheduling to the Special Olympics teams for training.
“The gym is an integral part of our clients’ lives. This partnership and the renovations will greatly benefit both organizations,” said Brad Saathoff, Black Hills Works CEO. “It’s busy all of the time, either with individuals shooting hoops or working out or with scheduled team activities. It’s evident it has gotten a lot of use. It definitely needs a new floor, and without a breezeway, the new floor would be ruined in no time. We also would really like to upgrade the locker rooms and expand the cramped weight and cardio room. There are many times when all of the machines are busy, and there are several people crammed in waiting for their turn.”
100% of Legends Riders contributions benefit charity. The 2016 Legends Ride will take place on Monday, Aug. 8.
