'Battle' to help Child Advocacy Center

Local and state law enforcement officers and firefighters will show their mettle on the softball diamond this weekend during a Battle of the Badges charity fundraiser.

Aiken County Sheriff's Office deputies, Aiken Public Safety officers, North Augusta Public Safety officers, S.C. state troopers, Richmond County Sheriff's Office deputies and GVW firefighters will battle it out on the field Saturday at Citizens Park to raise money for the Child Advocacy Center (CAC) of Aiken.

The softball games will be double elimination. The games will kick off at 10 a.m.

Each department is trying to score the most runs for bragging rights and the most donations for the children treated at the facility. The game was played for the first time in 2006.

Aiken Public Safety officer Richie Franklin has worked with fellow officer Chris Walker to get the word out about the game and the local not-for-profit center, which interviews children as a part of medical and forensic exams.

Previously, children were interviewed at the police station, ushered to an interview at the Department of Social Services and then taken to the hospital for a medical evaluation. Local child advocates have been forced to take children to Charleston or Columbia for extensive medical exams and then had to wait in line while the children from those areas were served first.

Because of the nature of the agency, local law enforcement officers work with the advocacy center.

Officer Jennifer Bickel said the community is fortunate to have such an agency, adding that the work they do is often unrecognized.

Donations are being taken at the game.

For more information about the advocacy center, call 644-5100.

Contact Karen Daily at kdaily@aikenstandard.com.