Helping hand for Special Olympics

Special Olympics Wanganui finally feels like its luck is changing for the better.
Late last year, the group's clubrooms at Laird Park was subject to ongoing attacks, which saw property vandalised and windows broken repeatedly.
Over the Christmas holidays, three local companies came to the group's aid, Wanganui Glass replacing a number of small windows, Central Glass replacing three large windows with unbreakable glass, and Alarm Watch installing surveillance cameras, all of which were donated, and the camera rental heavily discounted.
Now, another organisation has offered to help them, too.
Special Olympics Wanganui is this year's winner of Wanganui Master Painter's community project and will have its clubrooms painted for free this weekend.
Special Olympics Wanganui chairman Danny Kavanagh said the inside of the clubrooms, and the gables on the outside would be painted Spanish White.
They had repainted the outside walls themselves about four years ago, but couldn't reach the gables. The inside hadn't been painted.
"We can't believe our good fortune. And our windows are all intact. We haven't had one incident since the security cameras were installed."
Project co-ordinator Ian Glenny said this was the fourth community project Master Painters had undertaken as a way of giving back to the community.
It invited charitable trusts and non-profit organisations to apply to have their building painted.
Applications were then narrowed down to three finalists, and a winner chosen at random.
Master Painters was aware of how difficult it was for organisations to stay afloat, let alone maintain premises, so the aim was to lend a hand and, in the process, make a building beautiful, he said. Mr Glenny, of Quality Decorating Ltd, said there were 17 Master Painters members in Wanganui and Marton, who all took part in the charitable projects.
The projects were the local branch's initiative to work within their own community, and to that end, the three Marton members had also chosen to help the Marton Plunket, and would be painting there this weekend in conjunction with the Laird Park project.
The paint for the projects was sponsored by Guthrie Bowron (Dulux), Resene, Placemakers (Wattle) and Colour Plus, he said. Prep work would be done today and tomorrow, and the rest finished on Saturday.
Mr Glenny said the inside of the clubrooms at Laird Park was looking tired, and the gables on each side were too high to reach without proper equipment.
Mr Kavanagh has promised morning tea to the workers as a thanks on the day.