Two local riders to be on the water with Water Warriors
Special Olympics has a friend in the Water Warriors? lakeshore trek that begins Monday in Mackinaw City and continues for five days making harbor stops along the way until they reach Harsen?s Island, 450 miles later. Rogers City is the second stop for the group of personal watercraft endurance riders, including local residents Rick DuLac and Elmer Schleben.
They are scheduled to arrive at 10:30 a.m. Monday but can arrive sooner if weather is favorable. DuLac and Schleben have been making the journey for many years now to benefit Special Olympics. It takes about 100 volunteers, many using their vacation time, to accomplish the annual trip. They serve as riders, water support crews, and land support crews. Each rider must raise a minimum of $1,800 to participate and must cover the 450 miles on his or her personal watercraft.
DuLac?s sister, Mary DuLac Sanger, raised almost $3,000 at a garage sale for the event. Schleben will be having a fund raiser at McDonald?s in Rogers City Wednesday, August 6 from 5-7 p.m. The event will be a $5 donation for all-you-can-eat pancakes. McDonald?s is donating all the funds to the Special Olympics Water Warriors event. Last year Water Warriors raised more than $144,000 for Special Olympics.
Special Olympics of Michigan provides year-round sports training and athletic competition for children and adults with mental retardation. Residents are encouraged to come to the Rogers City Harbor Monday to view the colorful display the Water Warriors put on and to wish them well.