LANESBOROUGH, Mass. — A new fundraiser for the Special Olympics is teeing off next month.

 

Market 32 and Baker's Golf have teamed up to put on a special glow ball night with the benefits going to the Law Enforcement Torch Run, which will supply Special Olympic athletes from Berkshire County with equipment, uniforms, and transportation to the games. 

 

"We thought this would be a fun way for people to gather and raise money," said Rose Cote, Market 32's community ambassador who helped organize the event.

 

Starting at 7 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 23, Baker's mini golf course will be lit by glow sticks. Trees are wrapped in lights, balloons will be filled with glowsticks inside of them and hung around the course. The cups will be glowing. And every participant will receive a golf ball that glows after it's been struck — a memento they'll be able to take home with them.

 

"I think that is the fun of it. You are out at night, in the dark. But, there is a soft glow and you're playing. It adds to the fun," Cote said.

 

A round of golf cost $10 and the group will be raffling off a golf package that includes rounds of golf at Donnybrook, Skyline, Bas Ridge, and the GE Athletic Association. Joe Mindlin from Harminy Entertainment will be playing music and John Levardi from Krispy Cone and Allen Lussier from Ozzie's Steak and Eggs will be cooking up hot dogs and hamburgers, which will be free for all who attend. 

 

"We're hoping for at least 250 to 300 people. We start at 7 and we're going to go to 10 or until people stop coming through," Cote said.

 

Cote said Wise has donated chip, Pepsi and Coke has donated beverages, and Freihofer's is donating rolls. But she is still looking for some donations to help offset the cost of the meat. Nonetheless, the organizers hope that between the rounds of golf and the raffle they can raise upward of $5,000 for the Special Olympics.

 

"It benefits all of the Special Olympics athletes in Berkshire County," said Dawn Giftos, who volunteers with Civitan and who has been working with LETR events. "It's specifically for Berkshire County."

 

The idea grew from Cote looking for another community project to take part in. She has volunteered for other events and at LETR's Cop on Top event she was connected with Deb Storie, who was photographing it. Storie runs Baker's Golf and had put on a few successful glow ball nights last year. Cote and Storie teamed up to put on the special one in September.

 

"I had thought about it at one point but never did anything with it. Being a novice at it, we didn't know where to start. Then my niece talked about it last year so we started looking online at pricing and if we can do it," Storie said. "Last year we did it twice and this year we did it four times. Every time it is bigger and better."

 

The first time she put one on, 85 people putted a round. She bought enough for 150 the next time and sold out. Last week there were 236 people on the course for the night.

 

"We get a lot of people calling and asking about it. It's getting popular," Storie said.

 

Baker's is donating the use of the course as well as staff time to run the fundraiser. Giftos said there are around 600 local athletes who participate in the Special Olympics. Civitan had been working with Special Olympics for years and the LETR was later formed, headed by Pittsfield Police Officers John Bassi and Darren Derby, and parts with Civitan.

 

"That's how it all started. Civitan, their mission was always to help people with special needs and disabilities. We have been involved with Special Olympics for over 35 years. We had 10 of us that first year and now we have over 75 volunteers," Giftos said.

 

LETR has been growing in the number of events put on each year. It started with Cop on Top and later a midnight run with the cops roadrace was added. And then the polar plunge. More and more events are being put on by the organization with all of the money going to the Special Olympic athletes. The glow ball night is yet another in a line of fun community events.

 

"You don't see that around here, playing mini-golf at night. It's fun for teenagers and for families," said Kacey Hatch, one of the organizers.

 

If you can't make it, don't worry. They'll still accept donations. Anyone looking to donate outside of the event can send checks to Bassi at the Pittsfield Police Department, 39 Allen St. The checks should be made to LETR with glow ball written in the memo.