Patriot Olympics raises funds for special needs students

Team members competed in Capture the Flag and many other events at the Patriot Olympics. Photos by Kristi Jo Aguirre

Hundreds of Heritage High School students had fun competing in a variety of athletic events Friday during the Patriot Olympics, which raised funds for the school's special needs students.

Organized by the school's Key Club, the event included 29 student teams competing in the football stadium in a variety of games, including Capture the Flag, Tug-a-War, Balloon Pop and Chair Balance. Students also raced down the track rolling tires and competed in a race while balancing an egg on a spoon.

All proceeds from the event will be donated to the school's VIP Prom for special needs students. The beneficiary is Club TTI (Transition Toward Independence), which supports special needs students. The event was the result of a Key Club project designed by Heritage High junior Dayra Leal.

"Part of my job as vice president of public relations with the Key Club is to create community service events," Leal said. "Part of our year plan was to create a big event. It was supposed to benefit the community, but I felt like the school needed more support.

"We picked Club TTI because I wanted to pick a group that wasn't supported as much. We saw how much they needed the support. Any money that is left over from the VIP Prom will go toward equipment and training they need."

Leal said the Key Club had a goal to raise $1,500. After selling T-shirts and charging registration for teams to enter, they had already raised $1,600. Sales of food and game booth tickets at the event added to that total.

"The entire community supported this," Leal said. "So many students wanted to participate. Everyone started coming together for this. Teams came from sports, clubs, and just friends who wanted to make a team. We even had three staff teams. And America's Tires provided the tires for the tire race."

Leal has 4.8 GPA and is a member of the varsity tennis team, Key Club, Make A Wish Club, National Honor Society and California Scholarship Federation. She has worked over 600 community service hours.

"I've always loved helping people and being involved," she said.

Students interlocked in difficult positions during the Chair Balance.

Teams also took place in a Tug-a-War at the Patriot Olympics.

First-place Heritage All-Stars: Eduardo Campos, Armando Vargas, Mark Lopez, Miguel Huerta, Saul Botello and Daniel Saldana.

Heritage High junior Dayra Leal was the driving force behind the Patriot Olympics.