Snowshoeing is Special Olympian Christina Rawson’s favorite event. But the Newcastle woman’s favorite part of Special Olympics is making friends. She and fellow athletes joined their coaches and local public safety workers at Circle K in Wiscasset Saturday for a four-hour fundraiser.

Rawson said she wanted to help support Special Olympics. All the money raised there and at other Maine Circle K’s Saturday will stay in Maine, organizer of the Wiscasset event Bobbi Robinson said behind a bake sale table. A portion of each sale at the pump was also going to Special Olympics. Robinson later reported the Wiscasset event raised $388.26.

Robinson, of Lincoln County 911, has been helping raise money for Special Olympics at least the past 10 of the 32 years she has been a dispatcher.

“It’s just a super cause,” she said about why she helps year after year. “You will never see a happier, more positive group of individuals. When they smile, it’s infectious. You can’t help it.”

Customer Andrew Bertelsen of Lewiston was glad to hear his gas buy would help the cause. Wiscasset Police Officer James Read greeted him at the pump after Bertelsen pulled into the Route 1 business. Bertelsen said he likes to support anything that benefits those with special needs. “I’m very glad. It’s a nice surprise to be able to get gas and give to a charity.”

According to an email announcement with a subject line,“Fueling Dreams,” from  Lisa Bird of Special Olympics Maine, the Wiscasset event was among 44 Sept. 8 at Circle K’s from Kittery to Houlton. “This is one of Special Olympics Maine’s largest fundraising events,” Bird wrote ahead of the event.

Also at the Wiscasset Circle K Sept. 8, Wiscasset Police Sgt. Craig Worster was aiding Special Olympics Maine in another way: He was selling $20 raffle tickets for a 2018 Harley Davidson Road King, with proceeds going to the cause. Worster said tickets are limited and to please stop by the station if interested.