TWIN FALLS, Idaho — Employees at Cascade Student Transportation joined forces with the Idaho Special Olympics to transport athletes for the recent State Summer Games.

The Special Olympics event was held June 10 and 11 at Canyon Ridge High School in Twin Falls. Cascade Student Transportation, a subsidiary of Student Transportation Inc., is based in Meridian, Idaho.

“We were lucky enough to get to partner with Special Olympics Idaho this year and provide four buses for the Treasure Valley athletes,” said Bunny Malmin, terminal manager for Cascade, adding that her drivers transported additional athletes from the nearby communities of Fruitland, Nampa, Caldwell, Garden City, Eagle, Meridian, and Boise.

Nearly a dozen Cascade drivers, employees, and managers volunteered to help at the event, with a number of friends and family members accompanying them.

More than 500 athletes and 350 volunteers participated in the Special Olympics Idaho State Summer Games, which consisted of Olympic-style sports training and competitions in such events as swimming, cycling, running, and weightlifting.

"Special Olympics Idaho is incredibly grateful for the partnership we have with CST [Cascade Student Transportation] in providing transportation for our athletes and coaches," said Laurie La Follette, CEO of Special Olympics Idaho. "Transportation is one of our largest expenses for our State Games, and CST's generous donation of providing transportation and drivers to Special Olympics Idaho helped save thousands of dollars for our recent State Summer Games.”