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May 8, 2001 By Aspen C. Emmett A small group of Cortez schoolchildren traveled to Albuquerque, N.M., with charitable intentions but were greeted with a not-so-charitable act. The Cortez Whirlwinds, a traveling team of jump-ropers who promote heart-healthy activities, were performing at a VA hospital on April 28 when their traveling van was broken into and more than $500 of traveling money was stolen, said the group’s secretary-treasurer, Bonnie White. The 10 children who had worked hard to earn the money through various fund-raisers were left with no money for food or gas to continue their trip. "They cried and cried and cried," White said. "They just couldn’t understand why or how somebody would do that." Fortunately, the team coach’s mother lives in Albuquerque and was able to loan the group enough money to finish out the trip, White said, The children are now planning a fund-raiser to pay the gracious woman back, she said. A bake sale has been scheduled for June 2 at Wal-Mart. Albuquerque police told the group that their van was a prime target for burglars. "The police officer said that having the school logo on the side of the van is just a beacon because they obviously know that it’s just a traveling something and that you’re going to have bags or money or luggage," White said. Police also said the break-in was "professionally mastered" because access was gained with very minimal damage to the van, and said the likelihood of finding the perpetrators was very slim. "They said they were going to check their surveillance tapes and see if they noticed anything unusual going in and out but other than that . . ." While in Albuquerque, the Cortez Whirlwinds performed at a children’s hospital, the VA hospital, an elementary school, an assisted-living center and at the zoo. "It was real unfortunate, especially for where they were," White said. The 10 children, who range from second- to eighth-graders, are also welcoming donations from the community to pay back their debt. "Anybody that wants to make donations, I’m sure that would be more than acceptable," White said. |
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Copyright © 2001 the Cortez Journal.
All rights reserved. |
