>> THIS IS SOUTHWEST FLORIDA IN FOCUS.

COMING UP.

IT'S NEVER TOO EARLY TO BEGIN THINKING ABOUT HURRICANE SEASON.

>> DESPITE EXTREME DROUGHT CONDITIONS, LOCALS AND PUBLIC OFFICIALS ARE ALREADY PREPARING FOR WHAT COULD BE A WET AND WILD STORM SEASON.

MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN BIOMEDICAL SCIENCE.

WELL, TRYING TO CATCH THE SCHOOL BUS, MEET THE DUNBAR STUDENT, COMBINING HER EDUCATION AND HERITAGE WHILE CARVING OUT ITS FUTURE IN MEDICINE.

AND THE TORCH IS LIT AS SOUTHWEST FLORIDA CELEBRATE THE SPECIAL OLYMPICS.

WE LEARN MORE ABOUT THE IMPACT THE ATHLETICS PROGRAM IS HAVING ON THE AREA.

HELLO, I'M JENNIFER CRAWFORD.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

WE ARE 2 AND A HALF MONTHS AWAY FROM THE START OF HURRICANE SEASON.

THERE IS SOME OPTIMISM AFTER MOTHER NATURE SPARED THE ENTIRE COUNTRY LAST YEAR WITH NO HURRICANE MAKING A U.S.

LANDFALL IN 2025.

THE 2026 FORECAST IS ANNOUNCED IN LATE MAY.

IN THE MEANTIME, SOME CHARLOTTE COUNTY RESIDENTS ARE ALREADY PREPARING FOR WHATEVER MOTHER NATURE HAS IN STORE WGCU REPORTER YOUN JOO PARK MET UP WITH SOME LOCALS STOCKING UP ON SUPPLIES FOR ANY SEVERE WEATHER.

>> IN GORDA, A LARGE PARKING LOT WAS A SIDE OF BUSTLING ACTIVITY, BUT IT WASN'T CHAOS, RATHER.

IT WAS AN ORCHESTRATED PROCESSION, DRIVE UP, OPENED THE CAR TRUNK, GET SUPPLIES, DRIVE OFF.

OVER AND OVER.

ORDERLY LINE OF CARS CAUGHT THE ATTENTION OF SOME PASSERS BY SUCH A SEMESTER.

AND JUDY STINSON, AS WE SAW THE COMMOTION, THE PARKING IN ALL.

AND SO WE WENT ALL THE GUTTER GOLF CART.

>> IT SAID RUST BELT JUDGES.

>> WHAT THAT THE STUNT SINCE FIND A POP-UP EVENTS TO DISTRIBUTE A HURRICANE SUPPLIES, SOMETHING KNOWN AS A POINT OF DISTRIBUTION SITE.

>> WHAT YOU SEE BEHIND ME IS ON OUR OWN EMPLOYEES NOW WORK FOR CHARLOTTE COUNTY.

SO WE'RE HELPING THEM LEARN WE'RE IN THE PROCESS OF HOW WE'RE GOING TO BE DISTRIBUTING THE SORT OF ITEMS.

AND IT'S NOT AN IF IT'S A WHEN BECAUSE WE LIVE IN FLORIDA.

WE LIVE IN PARADISE.

SO IT'S WHEN WE GET OUR NEXT HURRICANE.

WE ARE READY AND PREPARED TO SPEND SOMETHING LIKE UP LIKE THIS UP AS QUICKLY AS WE CAN.

>> THAT'S ASHLEY TURNER WHO EXPLAINS HOW THE SIMULATION MICE A FINAL TIME IN AN EWA DOUBLE HURRICANE HURRICANE SEASON STARTS IN THE SUMMER.

BUT THE IDEA IS THAT IT'S NEVER TOO LATE TO PREPARE.

ON THIS WINDY DAY.

SEVERAL DOZEN VOLUNTEERS AND COUNTY STAFF WERE DISTRIBUTING DISASTER KITS IN THE PARKING LOT AS A STEADY STREAM OF CARS PASSED THROUGH DRIVER SIMPLY PULLED UP THEIR CAR AND GOT THEIR TRUNK LOADED WITH BOXES OF WATER.

READY TO EAT MEALS AND TARPS ALL ORIGINATING FROM THE FLORIDA DIVISION OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT GETTING SUPPLIES MADE.

RESIDENTS WERE CONFIDENT OF HURRICANE PREPAREDNESS SUCH AS RONNIE LONG WHO DROVE UP FROM PORT CHARLOTTE.

>> OH, YEAH.

IF WE NEEDED, THIS IS STUFF.

WE NEED ENOUGH.

>> TIGHT SITUATION, DAVID, HOW AND HIS DOG ALSO CAME TO GET THEIR CAR TRUNK FILLED WITH SUPPLY BOXES.

HE SAID 3 YEARS AGO DURING HURRICANE IAN, HE SAW THE MAGNITUDE OF THE STORMS FIRST HAND.

>> WE HAD TO REPLACE LIKE 5 WINDOWS AND AND SOME SKIRTING SOME SIDING AND ROOFING.

SO BUT YEAH, WE WERE FORTUNATE SOME OF THE OTHERS LOST EVERYTHING SO NEW.

SO WE WE THOUGHT WE JUST GET SOME PARKING STEPHEN IS AND BE PREPARED FOR THE NEXT ONE ABOUT HOPEFULLY WE DON'T GET IT.

>> NOT ONLY THIS IS POINT OF DISTRIBUTION, HELP RESIDENTS PREPARE FOR HURRICANES.

ACCORDING TO ASHLEY TURNER.

THIS KIND OF EVENT ALSO PROVIDES VITAL TRAINING FOR VOLUNTEERS WHO DISTRIBUTE THE DISASTER KITS.

SO I'M ACTUALLY A CHARLES COUNTY RESIDENT.

SO I AM BORN AND RAISED HERE.

I HAVE BEEN THROUGH YOU.

>> MY FAIR SHARE OF STORMS ON ALL THAT FROM HURRICANE CHARLEY AS A KID AND THEN ALL THE WAY TO WORKING IN THIS AGENCY FOR HURRICANES.

IAN HELENE AND MILTON ONSIDE SEEN IT FROM BOTH SIDES AND EVERY STORE.

WE LEARN SOMETHING NEW.

WE LEARN A WAY THAT WE CAN IMPROVE OUR PROCESSES.

AND THAT IS KIND OF WHAT'S GOING ON TODAY HERE, TOO, AS THINGS THAT WE'VE LEARNED FROM EACH STORM WE'RE TRYING TO PUT INTO THEN FOR THE NEXT ONE WORK EVEN BETTER.

>> THROUGH SIMULATION, THE HOPE IS THAT EVERYTHING WILL GO SMOOTHLY WHEN IT REALLY MATTERS IN THIS WAY IS A COMMUNITY EFFORT TO ENSURE THE FULL PREPARATIONS ARE IN PLACE ONCE THE NEXT HURRICANE APPROACHES SOUTHWEST FLORIDA.

FOR WGCU NEWS.

I'M YOUN JOO PARK.

>> FOR A LOOK AT THE PREPARATIONS BEING MADE FOR THIS YEAR'S HURRICANE SEASON.

WE ARE JOINED BY PATRICK FULLER.

HE IS THE EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT DIRECTOR WITH CHARLOTTE COUNTY, MISTER FULLER.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US TODAY.

THANKS FOR HAVING ME, MR.

FULLER, WE HAVE JUST SEEN A STORY ON THE EMERGENCY PREP KITS THAT YOU ARE PASSING OUT.

HOW IMPORTANT ARE THESE KITS AND WHAT ARE THE ELEMENTS THAT YOU THINK ARE SO IMPORTANT FOR CITIZENS TO HAVE IN PREPARATION FOR THE UPCOMING SEASON?

>> WELL, THE REAL OVERRIDING MESSAGE IS THAT DISASTER PREPAREDNESS IS NOT SOMETHING YOU SHOULD JUST FOCUS ON.

WHAT YOU SEE A HURRICANE ON OUR RADAR AND POTENTIALLY IN OUR AREA BEING PREPARED.

YEAR-ROUND IS VITALLY IMPORTANT BUILDING THAT CULTURE OF PREPAREDNESS IS SOMETHING THAT ALSO CHARLOTTE COUNTY TAKE VERY SERIOUSLY.

THIS IS ONE SMALL STEP.

2, HOPEFULLY REMIND OUR RESIDENTS THAT NOW IS THE TIME.

DON'T WAIT UNTIL WE SEE SOMETHING OUT THERE THAT THE NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER'S BRING TO OUR ATTENTION.

WE NEED TO BE PREPARED REGARDLESS OF WHETHER IT'S HURRICANE SEASON OR NOT YEAR ROUND.

AND NOW IS THE TIME TO GO AHEAD.

GET PREPARED.

>> HAS CHARLOTTE COUNTY DONE ANYTHING DIFFERENTLY THIS YEAR THAN IN YEARS PAST TO MAKE SURE THEY'RE PREPARED FOR THE UPCOMING SEASON?

>> WE'RE ALWAYS CONTINUALLY TRYING TO EXPAND OUR REACH.

TALK TO AS MANY RESIDENTS AS POSSIBLE.

WE WE HOPE REGULAR SEMINARS.

WE GO TO ANY CIVIC ORGANIZATION, CHURCH ORGANIZATION TO TRY TO GET THE PREPARED HIS MESSAGE OUT THERE.

WE'RE DOUBLING DOWN ON THAT THIS YEAR.

WE'RE ALSO TRYING TO TARGET OUR VULNERABLE POPULATIONS.

WE HAVE A A LARGE SENIOR CITIZEN POPULATION AND CHARLOTTE COUNTY WHO MAY NOT BE AS MOBILE AS A PEOPLE, YOUNGER AGE, GETTING THAT PREPARED, ESPECIALLY SOUTH TO THEM.

EXPLAIN TO THEM WHAT IT MEANS TO BE PREPARED AND HOW TO GO ABOUT THAT, HOW TO BUILD THEIR OWN INTERNAL NETWORKS SO THAT THEY'RE NOT ON THEIR OWN.

WHEN THE STORM IS BEARING DOWN, THEY HAVE A NETWORK TO RELY ON TRYING TO GET THAT MESSAGE OUT THERE THROUGH OUR WE CALL A SAFETY NET WORKS.

PROGRAM IS ONE OF OUR REAL COMPONENTS THAT WERE TRYING TO FOCUS ON THIS YEAR.

>> WHAT IS THE NUMBER ONE THING THAT YOU WOULD LIKE NEWCOMERS TO OUR AREA KNOW ABOUT GETTING PREPARED AND WHAT THEY SHOULD HAVE IT IN THEIR HOMES TO PREPARE FOR THIS UPCOMING HURRICANE SEASON.

>> I MEAN, THE BASICS OF PREPAREDNESS, YOU KNOW, BUILDING THAT KIT NO LONGER DO WE LIVE IN THE DAYS OF HAVING JUST 3 DAYS WORTH OF SUPPLIES OR 72 HOURS, WE RECOMMEND TO OUR RESIDENTS TO HAVE 5 TO 7 DAYS WORTH OF SUPPLIES ON HAND THROUGHOUT HURRICANE SEASON.

AND THERE'S A GOOD REASONS FOR THAT.

YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A VERY BUSY SEASONS LIKE WE HAD 2024 WHERE WE'RE NOT THE ONLY STORM.

WE'RE NOT THE ONLY COMMUNITY THAT'S IMPACTED BY STORM AS MULTIPLE STORMS.

THERE'S THERE'S THINGS THAT THIS DISASTER OUT THERE THAT ARE HURRICANES.

ALL THESE THINGS PUT PRESSURE ON THE THE NATIONAL SUPPLY CHAIN ON OUR FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE ON OUR STATE GOVERNMENT.

THE SUPPLY CHAIN MAY NOT BE ABLE TO CATCH UP IMMEDIATELY.

YOU NEED TO BE ABLE TO BE ON YOUR OLD TO BE PREPARED 5 TO 7 DAYS IF WE'RE MAJORLY IMPACTED BY A STORM.

ALSO ON TOP OF THAT, THE OTHER REASON FOR THAT IS THAT THEY DON'T HAVE TO GO OUT THE ROADS IMMEDIATELY AFTER STORM.

UNFORTUNATELY, MANY INJURIES AND FATALITIES OCCUR AFTER OF THE PASSING OF A STORM BECAUSE THE ROADWAYS ARE HAZARDOUS.

THEIRS.

NO DOWNED POWER LINES.

THERE'S PEOPLE OPERATING IN AN UNSAFE MANNER.

IF THEY CAN DO THAT, THEY CAN HAVE 5 TO 7 DAYS WITH SUPPLIES ON HIM SO THAT THEY DON'T PUT THEMSELVES AT RISK BY GOING OUT ROADWAYS RIGHT AFTER STORM.

THEY'RE PUTTING THEMSELVES IN A BETTER POSITION.

>> MR.

FULLER.

IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE YOU'D LIKE TO SHARE WITH US ABOUT ADVICE FOR PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY AS WE AS WE ENTER THIS SEASON FROM MAY TO NOVEMBER.

>> JUST A REMINDER THAT NO PART OF THE PRICE WE PAY FOR LIVING THIS BEAUTIFUL PARADISE OF SOUTHWEST FLORIDA'S THAT FROM TIME TO TIME, WE ARE VISITED BY TROPICAL WEATHER NOTHING TO BE AFRAID OF WE'VE ALL MANY OF US HAVE BEEN THROUGH NUMEROUS STORMS AND HAVE SEEN COME OUT THE OTHER END.

GREAT WE ARE CONTINUALLY TRYING TO BUILD THE RESILIENCE OF OUR COMMUNITY.

I I'M ALWAYS AMAZED BY HOW RESILIENT OUR RESIDENTS ARE.

IF YOU LOOK AT 2022, THE DEVASTATION FROM HURRICANE IAN FOLLOWED BY A REMINDER FROM DALIA 2023 ALL THE WAY TO CLEAN A MOAT AND A 2024 OUR RESIDENTS WHO'VE BEEN HERE FOR A FEW YEARS HAVE BEEN THROUGH A LOT OF STORMS.

YOU CAN GET THROUGH THEM, DO WHAT YOU CAN TO PREPARE YOURSELVES, YOUR FAMILY, YOUR HOMES NOW SO THAT YOU'RE NOT DEALING WITH THE LONGER-TERM RECOVERY THAT DOESN'T HAVE IT.

>> GREAT ADVICE.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US TODAY.

AND FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO TO HELP KEEP US IN THE REST OF THE MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY SAFE.

MISTER FULLER.

>> ONCE AGAIN, HURRICANE SEASON OFFICIALLY BEGINS JUNE 1ST.

>> BUT THERE'S ALWAYS A CHANCE FOR AN EARLY STORM.

SO THE BEST ADVICE IS TO BE PREPARED.

COMING UP, UNITING THE COMMUNITY WITH THE THRILL OF COMPETITION.

WE EXAMINED THE IMPACT.

THE SPECIAL OLYMPICS HAS ON ATHLETES AND THEIR FAMILIES.

>> SPRINGTIME IS IN THE AIR.

AND SO IS THE POLLEN MOLD SPORES, TREE POLLEN AND EVEN GRASS CAN LEAD TO A VARIETY OF SYMPTOMS LIKE SNEEZING, WATERY EYES AND CONGESTION.

>> THE ALLERGY AND ASTHMA NETWORK REPORTS THAT OVER 30% OF ADULTS SUFFER WITH ALLERGIES AND GET THIS MORE PEOPLE ARE DEVELOPING THEM LATER IN LIFE.

MANY PEOPLE THINK ALLERGIES ARE SOMETHING YOU EITHER HAVE A SICK CHILD OR YOU DON'T.

BUT EXPERTS SAY THAT'S NOT ALWAYS THE CASE.

>> PATIENTS CAN DEVELOP ALLERGIES AS AN ADULT.

THEY CAN DEVELOP ENVIRONMENTAL ALLERGIES OR THEY CAN ABSOLUTELY DEVELOP FOOD ALLERGIES.

CLEVELAND CLINIC, ALLERGIST DR.

SANDRA HONG SAYS ENVIRONMENTAL ALLERGIES INCLUDE POLLEN MOLD, DUST MITES AND PET DANDER.

>> SOME OF THE MOST COMMON FOODS ADULTS CAN DEVELOP ALLERGIES TOO, INCLUDE SHELLFISH TREE NUTS AND PEANUTS.

DR.

KHAN SAYS THERE'S NO SINGLE CAUSE FOR THIS, BUT SOMETHING AS SIMPLE AS MOVING TO A NEW PLACE OR TRYING A NEW FOOD CAN BE ENOUGH TO TRIGGER SYMPTOMS.

PEOPLE WITH A FAMILY HISTORY OF ALLERGIES AND THOSE WITH ASTHMA OR ECZEMA MAY ALSO BE MORE AT RISK.

SO WHAT SYMPTOMS SHOULD YOU WATCH OUT FOR?

DOCTOR?

HONG SAYS AN ALLERGIST CAN HELP IDENTIFY TRIGGERS AND CREATE A TREATMENT PLAN FROM THERE.

>> IF THEY START TO NOTICE THAT, GOSH, EVERY SINGLE YEAR ABOUT THE SAME TIME THAT THEY START FEELING PRETTY MISERABLE WITH THE TEACHINGS.

TEASING STUFF, ENOS DRAINAGE.

I WOULD ACTUALLY HAVE THEM CONSIDER SEEING AN ALLERGIST DURING THAT PAIRS TIME.

IF SOMEONE IS GETTING FREQUENT SINUS INFECTIONS OR THEY'RE HAVING TROUBLES WITH COUGHING OR WHEEZING, ABSOLUTELY.

THAT CAN BE SOMEONE WHO'S DEVELOPED AN ALLERGY AND THEY'RE STARTING TO GET SYMPTOMS FROM THAT.

>> YOU CAN FIND MORE HEALTH STORIES AND PLENTY OF OTHER FEATURES ON OUR WEBSITE AT WGCU DOT ORG ABOUT 150 LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS TRADED IN THEIR WORK BOOTS FOR THEIR RUNNING SHOES, ALL PART OF THE ANNUAL LAW ENFORCEMENT TORCH RUN RAISING MONEY AND AWARENESS FOR THE SPECIAL OLYMPICS IN FLORIDA.

RUNNERS AND BIKERS HIT THE NEARLY 5 MILE COURSE CARRYING THE FLAME OF HOPE THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY.

WGCUS BRYANT MONTEILH LACED UP HIS RUNNING SHOES TO JOIN IN ON THIS RUN FOR A GREAT CAUSE.

>> IT'S NICE TO GET EVERYBODY OUT HERE.

DOESN'T MATTER WHAT HATCH, WHAT UNIFORM YOU'RE AT.

>> WE ALL HAVE TO HELP EACH OTHER TO BE SUCCESSFUL AND BE PART OF THE TEAM.

SO WHEN YOU SEE THE TROOPERS ARE HIGHWAY PATROL AROUND HERE ALL TOGETHER AND IT'S NICE TO SEE EVERYONE COME TOGETHER FOR SUCH A GREAT CAUSE.

>> THAT CAUSED PAIN TO SUPPORT THE SPECIAL OLYMPICS.

SO IN A BRIGHT AND MORE MORNING IN FORT MYERS, MEMBERS OF LEE COUNTY'S LAW ENFORCEMENT DITCHED THEIR USUAL UNIFORMS FOR GRAY T-SHIRTS, SHORTS, RUNNING SHOES AND YES, WATER BOTTLES.

FOR THIS STORY.

I DECIDED TO JOIN IN ON THE FUN TO 4.9 MILE RUN JETTY.

THE ONLY 4 FOOT A PARTICIPANT JOINED OUR JOURNEY AS WELL.

THOSE WHO RAN INCLUDED MORE THAN JUST LAW ENFORCEMENT, BUT ALSO SPECIAL OLYMPICS ATHLETES, MCGOWAN.

I'VE DONE 5 K'S.

I JUST DID 5 MOM.

>> YOU KNOW, I'M GONNA KEEP ON GO.

>> IT'S FUN.

AND YOU LIKE YOU KNOW, WHEN YOUR FRIEND.

>> FORMER SPECIAL OLYMPICS ATHLETE AND DADS.

>> IS NOW A COACH.

IT'S LIKE A GOOD OPPORTUNITY FOR ME TO BRANCH OUT TO HELP PEOPLE WHO HAVE SPECIAL NEEDS.

>> AND TEACH THEM THE FUNDAMENTALS AND SHOW THEM HOW TO HAVE FUN IN THE GAME.

HOW TO BE MORE.

ATHLETIC.

GOOD SPORTSMANSHIP.

>> ANDREW WAS A DIRECTOR FOR THE LAW ENFORCEMENT TORCH RUN FOR THE SPECIAL OLYMPICS IN FLORIDA AND TELLS US ABOUT HOW SPORTS HELPS ATHLETES TO MORE THAN THEY EVER THOUGHT THEY'D DONE SPORTS AND THEY'VE NEVER BEEN ABLE TO DO.

>> THROUGH OUR ATHLETE LEADERSHIP PROGRAM, WE'VE HAD SOME THAT JUST DIDN'T SPEAK AT ALL REALLY COME OUT OF THE BOX.

IT'S ABOUT.

BEGIN TO ATHLETES WILL BE INCLUDED AND EVERYTHING THAT ANYBODY ELSE'S.

>> THE LEE COUNTY EVENT IS THE SECOND STOP OF THE TORCH RUN SEASON IN FLORIDA.

THAT FINISHES IN MAY AT DISNEY'S WIDE WORLD OF SPORTS.

THAT'S WHERE LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES FROM ACROSS THE STATE GATHER FOR THE FINAL LEG OF THE TORCH RELAY AHEAD OF THE STATE SUMMER GAMES.

MCGOWAN SAYS COMPETING.

IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT WINNING.

THERE'S SOMETHING EVEN MORE SPECIAL.

IT'S A BOW.

>> HAVING FUN IS FOUND BEING HUMBLE AND THEY WOULD GO ABOUT IT.

>> FOR WGCU NEWS IM BRYANT MONTEILH FOR MORE ON THE IMPACT OF THE SPECIAL OLYMPICS IN OUR AREA.

WE ARE JOINED BY DON PAYNE.

>> THE SPECIAL OLYMPICS CORDINATOR FOR LEE COUNTY PARKS AND RECREATION.

THANK ARE PAYING FOR JOINING US.

SO I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

SO I JUST WANT TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT THE CONNECTION BETWEEN THE COUNTY AND THE SPECIAL HOW IS THIS ATHLETIC PARTNERSHIP AND HOW DOES IT WORK?

>> WELL, WE'RE HERE TO SERVE THAT THE COMMUNITY THAT SPECIAL OLYMPICS SERVES.

YOU KNOW, WE DO SERVE THE INDIVIDUALS IN THIS COMMUNITY THAT ALL RIGHT, DANA FIGHT IS THAT.

AND SO ACTUALLY, THIS IS THE DISABLED HAVE AUTISTIC.

AND THERE IS A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT SITUATIONS THAT THEY HAVE THAT THAT WE ARE AS A COUNTY TRY TO SERVE.

SO THE BEST WAY TO DO THAT IS TO SPECIAL OLYMPICS.

IT'S RIGHT HERE IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA.

THEY HAVE A LOT OF FANTASTIC OPPORTUNITY.

SO WE TRY TO HELP THEM BE SUCCESSFUL AND MAKE SURE THEN THAT THE COMMUNITY HAS A AVAILABILITY OF THOSE SERVICES.

>> I KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE MADE QUESTION.

WELL, HOW IMPORTANT IS THIS FOR KIDS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS OF ANY TYPE AND HOW DOES THIS HELP THEM IN THE LONG RUN AS WELL AS IN THE SHORT TERM?

>> WELL, IT GIVES THEM THE OPPORTUNITY TO COMPETE AND THEM ANYONE THAT'S DONE ATHLETICS OR EVEN OTHER ACTIVITIES, SUCH AS BEING IN A BAND AND THEN DOING THE PERFORMANCE AND EVERYTHING.

THERE'S A LOT TO BE LEARNED FROM PRACTICING WORKING HARD AND THEN COMPETING.

ARE YOU DOING YOUR CULMINATING EXPERIENCE?

SO THIS WAY FOR THIS POPULATION?

IT GIVES THEM A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO DO THAT.

>> AND WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT COMPETITION, I KNOW A LOT OF KIDS THIS MORNING COMPETE.

BUT DO THEY SPEND THE TIME TO PRACTICE AND ACTUALLY GET WITH THEIR COACH AND SAY, WELL, I REALLY WANT TO GET GOOD AT THIS.

THIS SPORT IN PARTICULAR.

HOW DOES THAT WORK?

>> YEAH, I THINK IT'S THE SAME WAY THAT YOU HAVE WITH ANYBODY OUT THERE THAT COMPETES IN ATHLETICS.

AND SPECIAL EFFECTS DOES A GREAT JOB TO MAKE SURE THAT IT KEEPS ITS AND ITS CREDIBILITY.

AND BY THAT, I MEAN, EVERYBODY DOESN'T GET A FIRST-PLACE RIBBON JUST FOR GOING OUT THERE COMPETING.

IT'S COMPETITION FOR YOU TO BE ABLE TO DO YOUR BEST.

AND SOMETIMES THAT MEANS YOU'RE THE BLUE RIBBON WINNER.

AND SOMETIMES YOU MIGHT BE SECOND OR 3RD.

ON DOWN, BUT IT'S ALL ABOUT COMING TOGETHER WITH COACHES, EVERY SPORT.

THE SPECIAL OLYMPICS OFFERS, THEY HAVE A CERTIFIED COACH THAT COACHES SAID AND SO THEN THEY GO THROUGH AT LEAST AN 8 TO SOMETIMES 12 WEEK SEASON OF PREPARING THROUGH PRACTICES AT LEAST ONE PRACTICE A WEEK AND THEN THEY COME TOGETHER AND DO COMPETITION AT THE AREA.

GAMES HAVE REGIONAL GAMES AND THEN SOME MAKE IT ONTO THE STATE GAMES.

>> YEAH, IT'S FUNNY BECAUSE I TALK WITH ONE OF THE REPRESENTATIVES THERE FOR THE ELITE COUNTY TORCH RUN.

AND HE SAID THAT THE AMOUNT OF ATHLETES AS GONE FROM 67,000 TO 80, SOMETHING 1000.

SO YOU'RE SEEING A LOT MORE ACTIVITY.

LOT MORE PARTICIPATION.

SO LET'S SAY FAMILIES WANT TO GET INVOLVED.

WHAT DO THEY HAVE TO DO AND WHO THEY CONTACT?

LEARN MORE ABOUT SPECIAL OLYMPICS.

>> OKAY.

HERE IN LAKE COUNTY, YOU WOULD GO TO SPECIAL OLYMPICS, FLORIDA DOT ORG, NOT SPECIAL OLYMPICS DOT ORG AND LOOK FOR FLORIDA BUT SPECIAL THE FLORIDA DOT ORG.

AND THEN ON THAT LIST AND ALL THE DIFFERENT.

SPORTS THAT ARE AVAILABLE RIGHT HERE IN LEE COUNTY AND RIGHT NOW CURRENTLY ON THE COMMUNITY SIDE AND WHAT I MEAN BY THE COMMUNITY SIDE IS THAT ANYBODY FROM 8 YEARS OLD AND OLDER TO I WOULD SAY A 208 AND THEY GET TO PARTICIPATE IN ANY SPORTS THAT WE OFFER.

AND HERE IN LEE COUNTY, WE HAVE 15 SPORTS THAT ARE OFFERED THROUGHOUT THE YEAR FOR ANYBODY, 808 YEARS OLD THAT WANT TO PARTICIPATE US TRACK AND FIELD BASKETBALL BOCCE CHEERLEADING CYCLING, TENNIS STAND UP PADDLE BOARDING, WHICH IS COOL.

BOWLING SWIMMING GOFF, TOP GOLF HAS SOMETHING FOR US PICKLEBALL ON AND CORNEL.

SO THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, THOSE ARE DIVIDED INTO SEASONS AND PEOPLE CAN REGISTER IT THROUGH SPECIAL THE FLORIDA DOT ORG AND AND THEN PARTICIPATE IN ANY OF THOSE EVENTS, MR.

PAYNE, WE THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

NO PROBLEM.

THANK YOU FOR ASKING.

>> AND ONCE AGAIN, IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE SPECIAL OLYMPICS AND HOW TO PARTICIPATE, YOU CAN HEAD TO SPECIAL OLYMPICS, FLORIDA DOT ORG AFTER THE BREAK.

PROVING AGE HAS NOTHING ON INNOVATION.

MEET THE DUNBAR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT ALREADY BEING RECOGNIZED FOR HER EFFORT IN BIOMEDICAL SCIENCE.

THE REGENERON SCIENCE TALENT SEARCH IS A YEARLY COMPETITION FOR HIGH SCHOOLERS ALL ACROSS THE GLOBE.

THOUSANDS OF STUDENTS ENTER THEIR RESEARCH PROJECTS 300 FINALISTS ARE SELECTED.

WGCUS EMMA RODRIGUEZ SHINES A SPOTLIGHT ON A FORT MYERS SENIOR WHO BECAME A FINALIST THROUGH YEARS OF RESEARCH.

ALL WHILE REPRESENTING HER HERITAGE.

>> I LOVE THAT RESEARCH.

YOU CAN EXPLORE THINGS THAT MIGHT NOT HAVE AN ANSWER TO THEM RIGHT THEN AND THERE AND YOU CAN KEEP DOING TESTING AND ITERATING AND ALSO GOING TO PRESENT YOUR FINDINGS AND GO THROUGH RESEARCH PUBLICATIONS AND SEE WHAT'S ALREADY OUT THERE.

>> DUNBAR HIGH SCHOOL SENIOR NISHI FERNANDO HAS A TRUE PASSION FOR MEDICAL SCIENCE.

HER TOP 300 FINISH IN THE REGENERON SCIENCE TALENT SEARCH IN JANUARY WITH SEVERAL YEARS IN THE MAKING.

FERNANDO GOT STARTED IN STEM BY COMPETING IN MATH COMPETITIONS IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.

BUT HER MAIN RESEARCH BEGAN DURING HER FRESHMAN YEAR OF HIGH SCHOOL AFTER A TRIP TO HER HOME COUNTRY OF SRI LANKA.

THE ISLAND'S APPRECIATION OF HERBAL MEDICINE INSPIRED HER TO FIND OUT WHAT A FEW NATIVE PLANTS COULD DO FOR HUMANS.

MEDICALLY IN 9TH GRADE, I IDENTIFIED 6 PLANT SPECIES.

>> THAT ARE NATIVE TO FLORIDA.

THAT PREVIOUSLY HAD LIMITED RESEARCH REGARDING THEREBY ACTIVITIES.

>> AND SO THAT FIRST YEAR I WORKED ON IDENTIFYING THE COMPOUNDS THROUGH A SERIES OF FINAL CHEMICAL TESTING.

AND MY MOST RECENT INVESTIGATION IS LOOKING AT THEIR EFFECTS ON GLIOBLASTOMA CELLS, WHICH IS A FORM OF BRAIN CANCER.

THE HOUSE HAS NO CURE.

>> IN LAYMAN'S TERMS, FERNANDO BROKE DOWN THE CHEMICAL COMPOUND OF EACH PLANT TO SEE WHAT PROPERTIES IN THEM COULD FIGHT AGAINST DISEASE.

THE LOW KASPERI SLASH PINE AND WINGED ELM SHOWED THE MOST PROMISE AS THEY CAUSED HARMFUL GLIOBLASTOMA CELLS TO DIE.

BUT AS A HIGH SCHOOLER WITHOUT TRADITIONAL MEANS TO RESEARCH EQUIPMENT, FERNANDO HAD TO USE HER ACADEMIC CONNECTIONS TO MAKE IT HAPPEN AND TO HER MENTOR, DR TO COOL.

NOW BEING LOCAL WHEN SHE DID SEND ME AN E-MAIL ABOUT WHAT SHE HAS ACCOMPLISHED.

>> AND WAS SHE IN THINGS TO DO WAS IMMEDIATELY TAKEN MEAN I DRIVE REALLY CAUGHT ME.

>> YOU KNOW, FULL FOR A HIGH SCHOOLER.

I MEAN IT TO US TO SOMETHING I DIDN'T WANT PLAINTIFFS MORE DURING THE WEEK.

SO IT'S A IT'S A LIGHTER.

>> FERNANDO'S RELATIONSHIPS WITH LOCAL GAVE HER ACCESS TO A UNIVERSITY LABORATORY AND ANOTHER SET OF EYES EXPERIENCED IN CANCER RESEARCH.

BUT THEY'RE FOR HER FROM THE BEGINNING WAS DR.

JUSTIN SUNNI, FORMER CANCER RESEARCHER AND BIOMEDICAL SCIENCES TEACHER AT DUNBAR.

WHEN HE FIRST MET FERNANDO WHEN SHE WAS IN 8TH GRADE.

THE PROJECT LIT A SPARK FOR HIM.

THERE'S A GREAT NEED IN THE FIELD OF CANCER, MEDICINE FOR NOVEL THERAPEUTICS, RIGHT?

WE HAVE.

>> CHEMOTHERAPY AREAS ARE STILL SORT OF THE STANDARD.

SO THIS IDEA OF EXPLORING PLANT SPECIES TO FIND OUT IF THEY HAVE POTENTIAL THERAPEUTIC VALUE GETS CANCER IS STILL A REALLY, YOU KNOW, IT'S STILL THERE'S STILL A WIDE RANGE OF AREAS BE TAPPED AND THAT IN TERMS OF LOOKING FOR POTENTIAL THERAPEUTIC AGENTS.

>> FROM PLANTS AND SUNNI SAYS THAT FROM THE BEGINNING, FERNANDO SHOWED PROMISE BEYOND HER YEARS, BOTH SUNNI AND LOCAL EXPRESSED AMAZEMENT AT HER TENACITY AND THAT SHE WILL GO.

>> VERY MUCH IN DEPTH OF THESE PROJECTS SHOW PROBE DEEPER WITH THEIR QUESTIONS.

SO TRY TO REALLY GET AS MUCH DATA AS YOU CAN.

AND THEN SHE IS ALWAYS THINKING TO WORK.

AND I GOT NEXT.

IT'S JUST BEEN IT AGAIN, JUST A REAL PRIVILEGE AND HONOR TO BE ABLE TO, YOU KNOW, HAVE A 2 TO 2.

TAKE ON THAT MANTLE ROLE WITH HER, THE POSSIBILITY OF FUTURE MORE THOROUGH RESEARCH EXCITES.

FERNANDO AND HER TEAM.

>> BUT SHE SAYS THE TRUE HONOR IS IN FINDING NATURAL SOLUTIONS TO SERIOUS HEALTH ISSUES.

AND REPRESENTING SRI LANKA.

SO I'VE BECOME REALLY CONNECTED WITH MY CULTURE AND MY HERITAGE.

SO HAVING THAT BE THE INSPIRATION FOR MY PROJECT AND THEN BEING ABLE TO HAVE THIS HONOR.

>> IS SO.

I MEAN, I LIKE EVERYTHING'S INTERSECTED AND YOU DON'T HAVE TO ABANDON ONE PART OF YOU IN ORDER TO EXPLORE ANOTHER.

>> FOR WGCU NEWS, I'M EMMA RODRIGUEZ.

>> THE NEXT BIG DECISION FOR FERNANDO, WHAT COLLEGE WILL SHE ATTEND?

WELL, SHE HAS NOT MADE THAT DECISION YET, BUT SHE SAID SHE'S EYEING A CAREER IN HEALTHCARE.

MASTERING THE ART OF THE WARDROBE CHANGE.

WE GO BEHIND THE RED CURTAIN TO LEARN ABOUT THE SKILLS NEEDED TO ENSURE A PERFECT PERFORMANCE.

THAT STORY AND MORE ON THE NEXT SOUTHWEST, FLORIDA IN FOCUS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US AND MAKE SURE YOU HEAD TO WGCU DOT ORG.

YOU WILL FIND ALL OF OUR STORIES AND EXTENDED INTERVIEWS THERE HAVE A GREAT EVENING AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU AGAIN NEXT TIME RIGHT HERE ON SOUTHWEST FLORIDA.

IN FOCUS.