The Monadnock Valley Patriots “Battle of the Badges” fundraiser returns to ConVal High School in Peterborough Saturday, April 25.
Cost of admission is $8, $5 for children ages 5-10, and free for those under 5. There will also be a halftime 50/50 raffle.
Members of the Peterborough Police Department will take members of five local fire departments take on each other in basketball, along with members of the Monadnock Valley Patriots Special Olympics team.
This year, the Patriots will also be joined by members of the Conval Unified Basketball team, coached by Kevin Carne.
“We’re so thankful for the help from the firefighters and the Police Department at this wonderful event for our athletes,” said parent and organizer Amanda DiNino said.
Members of the Monadnock Valley Patriots, who come from around the Peterborough area, range in age from 16 to 70. About 15 players will take part in Friday night’s game, in which the police team will be looking to repeat their victory over fire from last year.
Fire departments sending players to the game include Peterborough, Hancock, Dublin, Jaffrey and Rindge.
Organizer Deb Coyne said the Battle of the Badges was a regular fundraiser for the Monadnock Valley Patriots until the COVID pandemic, and returned in 2025.
Following “Battle of the Badges,” the Monadnock Valley Patriots will go on to compete in regional and state Special Olympics games. The Patriots have a traditional team in which athletes play independently, as well as a Unified team, where athletes play with a partner.
The Monadnock Valley Patriots Special Olympics partners special athletes, Unified athletes, parents, guardians, families, friends, volunteers and sponsors to provide a competitive experience allowing growth of individual skills, and to enable the opportunity to share in the accomplishments, both athletically and socially, of adult special athletes. For information go to facebook.com/groups/742841032410235.
Founded 50 years ago, the mission of Special Olympics New Hampshire is to provide year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities, giving them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy and participate in a sharing of gifts, skills and friendship with their families, other Special Olympics athletes and the community.
Special Olympics strives to create a better world by fostering the acceptance and inclusion of all people.
Please come cheer on your local heroes. All proceeds to benefit The Monadnock Valley Patriots Special Olympics Team.