SILVERHILL, Alabama — One local police department in Baldwin County will be pumping iron next week for a good cause and is encouraging other departments to do the same.

Officer Tervelle Lee with the Silverhill Police Department and Alanna Blount, daughter of Silverhill Police Chief Kim Wasdin, will be participating in the Alabama State Powerlifting Championships Feb. 22-23 in Mobile.

The event, which is sanctioned by the USA Power Lifting Association, serves as a fundraiser for Special Olympics and ARC of Baldwin County.

“I think it’s a good way to motivate members of our department and to raise money for a good cause,” Wasdin said.

Lee, 31, is a nine-year veteran of law enforcement and was a standout in football and track at Baldwin County High School. He has previously competed in the NPC Steel World Bodybuilding Championship in 2010 and placed second on his first attempt in the novice lightweight division.

A native of Elberta, Blount was a standout in softball and track at Foley High School. She has an associates degree in criminal justice and is currently a specialist with the U.S. Army National Guard, assigned to the 31st signal company in Foley.

She began body building in her freshman year of high school and participated in weightlifting events in high school. She was training to compete in the Ms. Galaxy competition, but was unable to compete because of injuries suffered in a car accident.

Daryl Haskew, a retired special education profession, serves as the state meet director and is hoping the Silverhill Police Department’s participation will encourage others to compete.

“We have competitors coming from across the United States, but we’re looking for more local participation,” Haskew said. “Weightlifting is a sport that anyone can enjoy with man and women competing in different age groups and weight classification.”

Haskew also serves as the head powerlifting coach for a team made up of clients from ARC of Baldwin County.

Wasdin said she wanted to challenge all police and fire departments in Baldwin County to participate in the meet.

“This might be something we’re really going to push for next year, but it’s still not too late to participate,” she said. “The meet is open to the general public and you can register all the way up to the day of the meet. You can also register at the event.”

The meet will be held at the Fort Whiting Auditorium on South Broad Street in Mobile.

The event will also serve as a fundraiser for the Wounded Warrior Project.

According to its website woundedwarriorproject.org, Wounded Warrior Project serves veterans and service members who incurred a physical or mental injury, illness or wound, co-incident to their military service on or after Sept. 11, 2001 and their families.

The project serves to raise awareness and enlist the public’s aid for the needs of injured service members; helps injured service members aid and assist each other; and provides unique, direct programs and services to meet the needs of injured service members.

Wounded Warrior Project began when several veterans and friends, moved by stories of the first wounded service members returning home from Afghanistan and Iraq, took action to help others in need.

What started as a program to provide comfort items to wounded service members has grown into a complete rehabilitative effort to assist warriors as they transition back to civilian life. The Alumni program provides long-term support through a wide range of complimentary programs designed to give ongoing support.

If you would like to sign up for the meet, there is a $45 registration fee. You must also be a member of the USAPLA. If you are not already a member, you can sign up at the meet at a cost of an additional $45.

For more information, including sponsorship and Fundraiser information for powerlifting or other Special Olympics ARC Baldwin County programs, contact Haskew at 251-928-6987 or visit http://usaplalabama.com.