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Kids & Family

Poway Special Olympics Team Showered With Support From Community

Team Mom Jody Campillo says the Poway community has rallied behind the Poway Padres.

After months of training, Poway’s Barry Cunningham is looking forward to stepping onto the softball field for the Special Olympics Southern California Regional Games on Saturday.

“Barry’s been talking about it constantly,” said Jody Campillo of her son, who currently attends the Abraxas High School transition program due to the challenges he faces with William’s Syndrome. “He can’t wait. He just can’t wait. He’s been really thinking about strategy.”

But it’s more than just a line of attack the athlete will be showing off. It’s the brand-new uniform he’s wearing, too―one of 65 recently gifted to the entire Poway Padres team.

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“New uniforms are a big deal,” said Team Mom Campillo of the donation made by Andy Lehrer, owner of Teamwork Athletic Apparel. “Our other uniforms were several years old and really worn. The players got to choose their numbers and the whole thing was so gratifying.”

Campillo says a formal picture of the team will be taken on Sunday to celebrate courtesy of volunteer professional photographer Ken Cohen.

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Those aren’t the only bits of charity to come the team’s way. Cub Scout Pack 627, of which Campillo’s younger son is a member, volunteered to pay for the embroidering of the uniforms―paying forward the generosity they received from the Rancho Bernardo Sunrise Rotary Club.

And for those who believe in the rule of three, the Poway Padres will raise you one more.

To close off the year, the Poway Elks Lodge #2543 will be serving up the team’s after-season BBQ in October, using grant money received especially for the cause that was petitioned for by Leading Knight Paul Kessel.

Campillo says donations like these are vital to the team, which doesn’t charge its athletes membership fees and is completely volunteer-run.

“This year we really had the community come out and rally for us. It’s really impressive,” Campillo said. “I’m really proud of our community. I’m really proud to be a Powegian.”

The event begins at 9 a.m. on Oct. 6 at the Rancho Bernardo Community Park. For more information, visit sosc.org/sandiego or call (619) 283-6100.

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