The 6th Annual Sanderson Ford Guardian Games will take place on Friday, March 22nd at the Westgate Entertainment District. Teams consisting of 1 Special Olympics Athlete, 1 Law Enforcement Officer and 2 sponsor participants will compete in 8 grueling fun events throughout Westgate. Our goal is to raise $100,000 for Special Olympics Arizona. We can use your help. Please make a donation of any amount on line at SandersonGuardianGames.com If you would like to participate, make a donation of $100 and we’ll put you on a team. Call Sanderson Ford at 623-842-8600 to get involved.
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LifestyleTranscript
00:00 The 6th annual Guardian Games is coming up March 22nd at Westgate and Dave from Samson
00:07 Ford and Detective Oliver is here with us to talk about how important this is to our
00:12 community and the law enforcement community.
00:14 And Dave, again, this is such a great thing that we do here in the community for our Special
00:19 Olympic Committee community.
00:21 And you especially with Samson Ford are a big supporter of this.
00:25 We are privileged to be part of the law enforcement torch run and the Guardian Games is the guardian
00:31 of that torch.
00:33 So we can get what we do maybe lights, keeps that light lit just a little brighter.
00:38 I hope so.
00:39 Yeah.
00:40 But we are just privileged to be part of anything with law enforcement in Arizona.
00:45 And this event is a fundraiser and we were talking numbers last time about what is raised
00:49 here and stays in Arizona, which is quite a bit, isn't it?
00:54 You know, it's about a million dollars a year that the law enforcement torch run raises
01:00 and we're going for a hundred thousand, which we have hit before.
01:03 And so this is a really big deal.
01:05 Yeah.
01:06 And I'm just saying that this just humanizes the law enforcement people.
01:11 They're out there mixing it up with these Special Olympians and a few business people.
01:15 And it's just an amazing event.
01:17 They need to, if you can't participate, come see it.
01:20 Yeah.
01:21 And remember, we talk about our law enforcement.
01:24 We know that you are the front people for emergencies, for things around our community.
01:28 But this here is a day you all step back and let the Special Olympians be the front of
01:34 the community, which is so great to you guys participating in, isn't it?
01:37 Yeah.
01:38 It is an amazing opportunity.
01:40 It's an opportunity that we're provided to really spend some really amazing time, positive
01:47 time with community members, watch the athletes really go out and give it their best.
01:51 And truly just give it all they have.
01:54 And it is a moment that truly fills your cup.
01:57 And like you said, you got to come out and see this.
01:59 You really do.
02:00 Because it's for us, having that cup filled, that can just be a reset for your year.
02:05 Yeah.
02:06 Even the torch run of seeing the different actually police communities come together.
02:10 We have Scottsdale, Glendale, Phoenix, gosh, Mesa, all over the Valley, all come together
02:17 for this event and the torch run, which is so great.
02:20 And I also love too, is that sometimes you have to turn some of the officers away because
02:26 there's so many of them want to be a part of this.
02:28 Yeah.
02:29 In fact, we were told that too.
02:30 It's like there's only a certain amount of members that are allowed because of that.
02:33 So they're still able to come over and support though.
02:36 They just can't participate with the athletes, which is great because there's other things
02:40 that need to be done.
02:41 So yeah.
02:42 And we do.
02:43 And Dave, that's what we do see on this day.
02:44 On that Friday, we see officers, firefighters, community service people who come out to support.
02:51 And that's what we want the community to do.
02:52 If you cannot participate, you still come out and support all these athletes, cheer
02:55 them on as they go through these fun games that we play.
02:59 But it's a way to raise money for the Olympics.
03:01 And that's what we want people to go out and do.
03:02 Absolutely.
03:03 For a hundred dollars, you can be put on a team and it's a life changing experience.
03:08 I've never seen such enthusiasm from these young people and the officers.
03:13 I mean, they come out to play.
03:16 So anyway.
03:17 They are.
03:18 There's different little activities that they do from, again, for at least the fun part
03:23 I think is the basketball, the hockey, all kinds of things.
03:28 Family feud that we play.
03:29 But then there's a serious stuff like, of course, the law enforcement's dressing up
03:33 and the firefighters competing and stuff like that, which is really fun too to watch everyone
03:37 do.
03:38 Exactly.
03:39 Yeah.
03:40 And there's a lot of fun.
03:41 And there's no, can you see what goes on?
03:43 But at the Guardian Games, it's a conglomeration of exciting things with people that care.
03:49 Yeah.
03:50 And again, it's those athletes there who are participating because it's a way to bring
03:55 them together in the community too, which is great because we know with COVID, they
03:59 didn't get a chance to play it for two years.
04:02 That's been back for a couple of years.
04:03 And again, it's important for them to show how much love is given for them to be able
04:07 to participate and be in the community.
04:09 Exactly.
04:10 And that's a big part of life.
04:11 And when you take that away, and so we're really glad that this year is really extra
04:16 special because it's going to be the most exciting Guardian Games ever.
04:21 Yeah, it is.
04:22 It's out at Westgate.
04:23 It's March 22nd.
04:25 Information's right there on the screen, how you can participate or come and support, which
04:28 is really nice for everybody to do.
04:30 And Detective, I don't want to get anybody in trouble.
04:33 I don't want to do anything like that.
04:35 But what police department you think might do a pretty good job this year?
04:39 I'm going to go with Scott Stell.
04:40 Oh, okay.
04:41 I am.
04:42 Alright, I don't want to start anything.
04:44 Yeah, no.
04:45 You know what?
04:46 I think go big or go home, and nobody wants to go home.
04:49 There it is.
04:50 When you're at those games, you're going to go big.
04:51 So Scott Stell's going to bring it, for sure.
04:52 There it is.
04:53 Dave, that's what we love about this.
04:54 Thank you very much both of you for being here.
04:57 And again, if you want to be a part of the Guardian Games, just head over to the website
05:02 right there on the screen.
05:03 So, alright, thank you.
05:04 Alright, thank you too.
05:05 Thank you.
05:06 Perfect.
05:06 Perfect.
05:06 Perfect.
05:07 [ Silence ]