For nearly a decade, the Academy’s Club Med has provided assistance to the Handicapped Bowling program at the Fort Shafter bowling alley.

On the third Saturday of each month during the school year, club members and volunteers meet at Fort Shafter to assist bowlers by placing a bowling ball on an aid ramp, cheering on bowlers and lifting their spirits.

Pearllette Simao has been running the program with her family for the past 15 years.

“Our dad, Raymond Victor, started the organization more than 40 years ago. Our brother had cerebral palsy and our dad wanted to have an activity for the handicapped population. At that time, there were no activities for handicapped adults. Our brother went to school until the age of 12 because there was nothing else available for him. So, dad got together with the Fort Shafter bowling alley manager and arranged for the handicapped bowlers to have a bowling league. He also had the ramps made for them because there were none available. In the beginning bowling was free for the bowlers, but now they charge us a small fee. We do not get any funding for this activity, but Fort Shafter has been very good to us and we appreciate their help.

“When dad got sick in 2000, my sister, Raynette Ludington, and I, along with our husbands and families, began running the league. We helped dad before when he needed help, but not full-time until 2000. Some of the other parents and families [of participants] help us also. During the years, we have gotten volunteers from various high schools and other organizations, such as the Lions Club and the military, to help the bowlers. We obtained help from Sacred Hearts Academy because Andrea Hamilton put me in contact with Jennifer Porter, a SHA teacher at that time. Then, Liz Sutter came with her first group of volunteers.

“We actually get bowlers and volunteers by word of mouth because the public does not know about us, only the volunteers and bowlers. It’s not that we don’t want anyone to know, it’s just that we don’t advertise – we are only there for the handicapped bowlers,” said Simao.

Sutter, the Club Med adviser, has been participating in handicapped bowling for the past 10 years.

“I think it helps them [the girls] realize that they’re so much luckier than the people that they’re helping to bowl, that they’re not crippled, that they don’t have a lot of physical problems like a lot of those people do. I want them to appreciate what they have. We’ve been doing this for about 10 years, and I hope to see [handicapped bowling] continue on, but it might not. Even when I first started bowling, I was really nervous. I thought to myself, ‘How am I going to deal with them?’ I didn’t know anything about them, but you know, as you get to know them, it makes the process a whole lot easier and enjoyable. I like to leave the alley feeling a lot better knowing that I’ve done something good,” said Sutter.

Sophomore Kate Hennion has been involved with the handicapped bowlers for the past year.

“At first, it was a little scary to be working with the handicapped because I didn’t want to upset them or make their experience less fun, but after I was there for just a little while, I realized that it was a lot of fun and it was incredible to see the big smiles on all the bowlers’ faces. That’s why I go back every month.

“The first time I was at handicapped bowling I was assigned to this one man who I was a little afraid to help. I was really quiet around him and I didn’t want to interact with him. After a while I started to encourage him and talk with him. He got a strike and I gave him a high-five and he gave me the biggest and most sincere smile I have ever seen. It was great.

“I already have a lot of experience with some handicapped people because my younger brother is autistic. This experience made me even more aware of some of the struggles that people face every day and how hard they work to overcome them. I have become more accepting of all people and more aware of the handicapped needs. I want to help all of them now so that they feel like they are part of society and accepted for who they are.

“I would definitely like to see this program continue because the bowlers benefit from it and so do the volunteers. Everyone should be aware of the people around us,” said Hennion.

“I think the most that we gain from this experience is the satisfaction of knowing we are giving the handicapped an opportunity to enjoy themselves, and they do. If someone wants to get involved with this activity just call or email me. For any other activity for the handicapped, they can call the state or Easter Seals,” said Simao.