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Randy’s Vegetable stand hosts Special Olympics fundraiser

Randy’s Vegetable stand along Randall Road in Sleepy Hollow will be turned into a big fundraiser location Sunday for Illinois Special Olympics athletes.

Besides the carnival rides, pony rides, a corn roast and a dunk tank, Sleepy Hollow police officers will be joined by state police, local firefighters and the U.S. Army to help raise as much money as possible for thousands of physically and mentally handicapped athletes in Illinois.

“It will be a pretty big event,” said Christine Gaitsch, co-owner of the vegetable stand. “We’ll have pretty much something for everyone.”

She thought of supplementing year-round fundraising efforts of police departments across the state. Those departments host the Torch Run campaign. She wanted to do something for athletes who work so hard to train and compete in Summer Games.

This year the games were held in June; however, even though they are over for the year, money is still needed for Illinois Special Olympics programs.

By coordinating the event, which is from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Gaitsch is helping the Sleepy Hollow police department which has officers take part in the Kane County leg of the Torch Run. Runners, many of whom are police officers, collect sponsors who contribute money amounts based on the distance they run.

“This will be the first time we’ve had a summer fundraiser at the vegetable stand,” Sleepy Hollow Police Officer Kit O’Reilly said. “A lot of work and planning have gone into it. Not only do we have Chris and Randy’s (Gaitsch) support, but neighboring police and fire departments have promised to join us.”

Vendors who are supplying the ponies, carnival rides and concession stands will donate a majority, if not all, of their ticket proceeds to Special Olympics, Gaitsch said.

“This is a great example of how willing people are to donate their time and effort to a good cause,” she said.

For more information about the fundraiser, call O’Reilly at the police department, (847) 426-4425.