Community Corner

Police Want Residents to Zumba for Special Olympics

A fundraiser at the Village of Glen Ellyn Civic Center will be held Friday night to benefit Special Olympics Illinois.

If you have ever wanted to try a new fitness program but weren’t sure about taking the leap, Friday night you have the chance to try Zumba and raise funds for a good cause. 

The Glen Ellyn Police Department is sponsoring a Zumba class to benefit Special Olympics Illinois.

Records clerk Elaine Speidel takes Zumba classes and she is also the police department’s coordinator for Special Olympics, said Deputy Chief Bill Holmer. She had the idea to combine Zumba with the fundraiser. 

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While it’s uncertain if any of the officers will do the Zumba, some of the department’s staff will be participating in the event Friday night, he said. Zumba is the only Latin-inspired dance-fitness program that blends international music with fitness, according to the Zumba website. 

The department has participated in other fundraisers to benefit Special Olympics Illinois, Holmer said.

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For the last two years, Leslie Car Wash in Glen Ellyn partnered with the department for a car wash. Officers and other department staff dry cars along with the Leslie employees, he said. 

“Leslie donates some of the income from the day, and all tips go to Special Olympics,” he said. 

With the Zumba fundraiser the department has no set goal for how much money it would like to raise, but Holmer said any amount would be positive. 

“Special Olympics Illinois provides training and competition in 19 sports involving almost 21,000 athletes with intellectual disabilities," Holmer said. "Elaine does a great job using her passion to keep us involved in supporting the mission of Special Olympics.” 

The Zumba class to benefit Special Olympics Illinois will be held Friday from 7 to 9 p.m. (doors will open at 6:30 p.m.), at the Village of Glen Ellyn Civic Center, second floor gymnasium. The cost to participate in the fundraiser is $20.


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