Local OHD client raises $2,000 for local Coyotes players

A.J. Cloud knows it isn’t cheap to keep the Sidney Coyotes’ UNIFYed Special Olympics basketball players up and going.

So last week, the Coyotes hit the streets to raise money. The only difference was bit more persistence on Cloud’s part.

When the fundraising smoke had cleared, the local Coyotes, clients of the Sidney Office of Human Development, had enough to make do for the remainder of the winter — with Cloud leading the way.

The team raised about $2,400, with about $2,000 being collected by Cloud.

“A .J. just went above and beyond,” said Amy Burton, OHD supervisor and Sidney coach. “He went everywhere, and didn’t let up.”

The Sidney players compete with the Scotts Bluff County Coyotes, and practice once a week. This means Cloud, along with teammates Bryan Olinger, Bradley Leis, John Sheets, Clinton Tiden and Jacey Leeper, must have transportation to and from Scottsbluff.

Which meant raising money locally.

“We had to go out and get people to support Coyotes basketball,” Cloud said. “The money goes for uniforms, gas and hotels when we play out-of-town tournaments.”

Other expenses include food and tournament fees, Burton added.

Local merchants did their part, and now the Sidney players can continue their season knowing their expenses can be met.

Scotts Bluff County’s Coyotes will play two tournaments each year, usually at the end of March. Last year, the team held a scrimmage in Sidney, which was well attended.

UNIFYed Special Olympics differ from the original Special Olympics in that each athlete has a peer partner, usually a local student. The local peer partner is Kyle Burton.

Sidney’s athletes also compete in volleyball during the autumn.

Though Cloud was without question the top fundraiser locally, he wasn’t about to take all the credit himself, demanding that his teammates also get credit.

“Everyone did a good job,” Cloud said, “and all of us want to send out a big thank-you to everyone in the community who helped out.”