BEDFORD COUNTY, Va. – Local police officers and deputies in Bedford County are putting on a different kind of uniform during the Hooping for Heroes basketball game at Liberty High School Friday night.
The event is to raise money for two Special Olympic events that Bedford County students with and without disabilities participate in called the Little and Big Feet Meets.
“It makes my heart burst. It is the best. The three happiest days as a teacher each year are our three events of our Little Feet, our Big Feet and this basketball game, and our students do so much. I kind of oversee, but they’re the hard workers,” said Alicia Schneider, who is the event organizer and 10th-grade PE Teacher.
This is the third year of the event. Officers with the town of Bedford and Bedford County deputies will play against kids for the first half of the game. During the second half, they will take on the teachers.
Two students were busy practicing in Liberty High School’s gym on Thursday for Friday’s game. They both said they are ready to play.
“I like playing basketball. Basketball is my favorite, and I keep winning sometimes. I beat Officer Hall,” said Haley Fisher, who is a 12th grader at Liberty High School. Fisher has participated in all three Hooping for Heroes.
Eleventh grader Ashley Goff is also excited to shoot hoops.
“The Special Olympics happens every year, and it is so much fun. Raising money for this program is a really big asset to our community, and seeing pictures everywhere including everybody is just a really good thing for us,” said Goff.
This event not only promotes inclusion, it’s also a chance for the cops to create a positive relationship with the kids and the community.
“Officers that come and play with us are amazing. We see them every day. We wanna have kids be comfortable with our officers around Bedford County, and our officers do a lot for us. So, I’m glad that they’re here to participate with us,” said Goff.
The Hooping for Heroes basketball game starts at 6:30 p.m.