Guilford Police Lt. To Climb Kilimanjaro For Special Olympics

GUILFORD, CT - A Guilford police lieutenant will next year join other Connecticut police officers and a few civilians attempting to climb to the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro all in an effort to raise money for Special Olympics Connecticut.

In February of 2020, Lt. Timothy Bernier will be joining "Cops Conquering Kilimanjaro for a Cause," a group of other Connecticut Police Officers who will be climbing to the summit of Kilimanjaro in Tanzania to to fundraise for Special Olympics Connecticut.

The summit to Mount Kilimanjaro is close to 20,000 feet high - or nearly four miles. Bernier said he expects it will take nine days to reach the summit.

Bernier said he is well aware of the statistics that show that less than half that attempt to climb to the top make it. But he and his fellow climbers aren't intimidiated.

"We've been working hard already," he said, "taking frequent group hikes and as the weather warms up we'll start climbing some nearby mountains for practice runs."

Bernier said he's always been kind of a gym rat, anyway, so he's looking forward to the challenge of climbing Kilimanjaro.

Bernier is no stranger to helping the Special Olympics cause. Last year he helped coordinate a "plunge" at Jacbos Beach that raised more than $6,000 for Special Olympics Connecticut. But that is just one of dozens of activities Bernier has been involved in with Special Olympics - both on a townwide and statewide basis.

"I've been tied to Special Olympics my entire 17 years in law enforcement," Bernier said. "It's just an immediate hook that police departments and Special Olympians have when we interact with each other."

"It just really tugs at your heart strings," the lieutenant said.

Bernier and his fellow Connecticut officers will be training all year to reach not only the summit but a financial goal to help CT Special Olympics athletes reach their goals .

So far Lt. Bernier has raised nearly $1,000 of his $10,000 goal.

Here is the link to follow their effort and also to donate to the effort: https://www.classy.org/team/220561