Save our manager!

From cardboard jails to scissor lifts and tutus, managers at Canadian STAPLES Business Depot locations are pulling out all the stops in an effort to raise money for a very worthy cause.

This past Saturday, Special Olympics Yukon (SOY) and the Whitehorse STAPLES store kicked off their annual Give a Dollar, Share a Dream campaign, which will run for three weeks, concluding on Nov. 11.

SOY athlete Garry Chaplin was there for the launch Saturday, helping out at the cash register and trying to raise money to get the local STAPLES general manager out of jail.

Sue Pezzuto was given a bucket to collect donations and trapped in a circle of cardboard boxes until her total for the day hit $500.

While it may have been somewhat confining, Pezzuto considered herself lucky compared to the stories she heard from other managers from across Canada, such as the one who was trapped in a lift raised to the ceiling until their donation total was met.

'I'm way too afraid of heights to do that one,' she laughed.

This is the third year the campaign has been run in Whitehorse and 75 per cent of the funds raised will be directed to the growth of the Special Olympics sports program in the Yukon. The other 25 per cent will go to Special Olympics Canada, in order to send Team Canada to the 2007 World Games in Shanghai, China.

'STAPLES' goal this year is to raise $505,000 across the country,' explained Pezzuto. 'Each store sets their own goal. Our goal ... it's probably a hefty goal, but I'd like to see $5,000.'

So far, so good for Pezzuto and the Whitehorse depot. Not only did she raise her $500 on Saturday $566 to be exact the store has managed to raise another $500 since then, with more than two weeks still remaining in the campaign.

And, thanks to the generous donations of Yukoners, the staff at the Whitehorse STAPLES managed to come up with another manager challenge. Manager Chris Nagy will don a tutu on Saturday, for the entire day. Nagy told his staff he would wear the tutu if the store raised $500 over the past two days, which it did.

'We've already raised over $1,100,' said an obviously proud Pezzuto. '(The Whitehorse location is) the number five company, in terms of raising money so far. That's out of over 300 stores.'

Asked why she supports the annual fundraiser, and why she believes Special Olympics is such a worthy cause, Pezzuto recalled a meeting she attended for STAPLES two weeks ago.

'We had a Special Olympian speak there and I guess it's just the difference it makes in their lives.

'She was just so thankful for the opportunity to compete, make friends and get in shape. It was very touching.

'And I just love Garry (Chaplin). He's awesome.'

Customers can make their donations to Special Olympics at the STAPLES checkout counter, from now until Nov.11. Every Saturday, a SOY athlete will be at the store to meet with customers and help raise funds.