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PAGE 12, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 27. 1985, WHITBY FREE PRESS Di19sabled kids give iteverything they've got By SUSAN LESJAK Free Press Staff Ever see a crippled kid in a wbeelchair mow down a police officer - also in a wbeelchair - to get to a rugby bail? Tbat's the com- petitive spirit that characterized last weekend's Durham Regional Police Disabled Children's Games. The games - the first- ever for the region - were sponsored by the Durham police officers and featured six teams competing in at least as many events. Slalom through pylons, swim- ming, shot put and "wheelchair rugby" were among the athletic contests in whicb the 60 participating kids pitted tbemselves against each other. "The determination and courage of these kids was really something to see," said community service of- ficer Jerry Dionne, who along with 80 of bis fellow officers and their wives belped to make the day happen. "lEverybody was sur- prised by the kids. A' lot of volunteers didn't know -what to expect," said one of the games coordinators constable Henry Otter. "You hear the word "disabled" and you conjure up al kinds of things." "One officer - who ap- pears to be a real tough guy nxost of the time - came up to us afterwar- ds, saying 'holy moses'. He was really touched. " The words of Otter just hint at the emotion and exuberance that was in the air ail day Saturday at the Pickering Recreation Complex. The kids fought with a deter- mination that many of the volunteers previously thought was reserved for "ordinary" people. Their athletic skill was incredible to witness. "The way those kids raced back and forth in those wheelchairs - now that's real talent," said Dionne. Dionne, recalled with laughter being told to "get off the floor" because he wasn't in a wheelchair, saying "the kids will compete against you and bard, as long as they know you're competing on the same level. " "We started out playing to lose," remarked Otter, referring to the rugby match between police officers and the disabled kids' top-slated team. "But after a while, we were playing to win. " The officers com- petitive spirit didn't turn out to be mucb help, however, as they were badly defeated by the kids even after enlisting the aid of a disabled player in a vain effort to even up the teams. "Wheeling those tbings around i.s a lot harder than it looks, he acknowledged. Botb the kids and the police are determined to stage a re-matcb next year. Asked whether tbey wanted to corne back, the 60 athletes responded with a deafening "ya ". The enthusiasm of the kids was mirrored by the police officers. "A lot of the officers came up afterwards and said they could bardly wait tili next year. We did this for the kids but it turned out to be as much fun for us," said Otter. Next year, he said, the coordinators hope to see double the number of teams. Credit for the day - while it should go to everyone who helped - including the wives, parents of the kids and other Durham Regional non-uniformned staff - belongs in the greatest part to Uxbridge police constable Stew Giffin. "He's the guy wbo thougbt this whole thing up and put more time in- to it than anyone," said Otter, Giffin's second- in-command. "He's just done a helluva job." Giffin, would no doubt bave bad some reflec- tions of bis own about the Durham Regional Police's first annual disabled games, except that be was biding out somewhere - relaxing, no doubt - after the more than six montbs of bard work be expended plan- ning the event. The resuits for Satur- day's games are as follows: Best ail around female athlete: Vanier Vikings' Donna Weir. Best ail around male athiete: Variety Village's James Treurer. Team Piacings: Vanier Vikings- lst, Variety Village- 2nd, Durham Hotwheels - 3rd, Five Counties - 4th, Durham Superstars - 5th, and Waterloo County - 6tb. photos by Susan Les jak