The Moscow Rebel Tigers, Moscow’s Special Olympics team, came together Saturday to thank the businesses and individuals that donated money and supplies after their sporting equipment was stolen. The team will head to the games in Boise at the end of the month, something the team feared wouldn’t happen a week ago.
Elizabeth King, the team’s coach, brought the athletes and their families together at the Hamilton Indoor Recreation Center to create a thank you banner, take a group picture and make a public thank you to their supporters.
“I would like to say thank you very much,” said Brian Lyon, one of the team members.
King went to pick up the team’s equipment Feb. 15 before practice and found the storage door was wide open. After looking inside, she found that all the snow shoes, cross country boots and other equipment had been stolen.
“That was very shocking and extremely disappointing,” King said. “I had to eventually tell the entire team that we didn’t have any equipment — that wasn’t a pleasant experience.”
According to police records, $4,000 worth of sporting goods had been stolen from the storage unit.
King said that the team’s major concern when they heard the news that day was whether they were going to be able to attend state games. She said it didn’t take long for the community to step in, though.
“My first phone call was around 7 Saturday night,” King said. “It was from the coordinator of the Coeur d’Alene Eagles, and he was letting me know that he was donating $1,000 from their most recent fundraiser to the team. That was the best phone call I have received in a really long time.”
After that, King became swamped with phone calls and emails from people wishing to donate. King said that the University of Idaho’s Student Recreation Center offered to let the team rent equipment free of charge for the games, but King decided to decline.
“I appreciated their offer, but I thought borrowing equipment from other Special Olympic teams would show that we are unified and a family unit,” King said.
The Moscow Rebel Tigers consist of athletes from middle school age to older adults. They participate in both the Summer and Winter Special Olympics. This year, they will compete in cross-country skiing and snowshoeing.
“We have not brought home the gold, but we have brought home blue and red ribbons,” King said. “It’s a rewarding experience to be able to watch all our athletes be themselves.”
The team coordinators pay for the accommodations and events, the athletes attend the event free of charge.
Some of the athletes have been participating in the Special Olympics for most of their lives.
Brian Lyon is a cross-country skier and said he’s been a part of the Special Olympics ever since he can remember. He said his favorite part was being with the team and having fun on the trip together.
Some team members like to give back to the community. Steven Sale and his wife both participate in the Summer Special Olympics.
“I even offered to give skis in my backyard,” Sale said.
King said the team now has enough equipment and money to take them to Boise. The athletes will participate in the statewide Special Olympics, and winners of the state games will be put into a pool for a chance to move onto nationals.
King thanked the Moscow Opportunity School Foundation, Syringa Networks, Performance Physical Therapy, Tri-State Outfitters and Revolution Motor Sports for their support. She also said individual donors spanned from Seattle to Pullman, all over Idaho and even some from Texas and Montana. King also thanked other Special Olympic teams that helped the Rebels, as well as Idaho State Rep. Shirley Ringo — who donated to the team.
King said the perpetrators have not been found, but she is taking steps to keep the new equipment safer. She said she bought heavier lock and is looking at low-cost unit storage that is gated.
Danielle Wiley can be reached at [email protected]