The success of a weekend fundraiser is taking a little of the sting out of Const. Rachael Gabrielson’s sunburns.

The Lacombe Police Service officer and Const. Paulo Silvestre, of the Canadian Pacific Police Service, raised $22,000 in last weekend’s Free the Fuzz event that saw the pair spend 48 hours on the roof of the north Red Deer Walmart. Money raised goes to Red Deer and Alberta Special Olympics.

“We were ecstatically happy about it,” said Gabrielson on Tuesday. “Last year, we did $12,500 and our goal was to beat that.”

This was the second go around for Gabrielson, although the experience couldn’t have been more different weather-wise.

“We did it in October and we froze to death,” last year, she said. “This year, we roasted. I’m still nursing a few burns.”

The pair took a couple of tents, table and chairs, a deck of cards and a lantern to wile away the evening hours.

Local residents could stop by to make a donation or buy a hot dog or drink or other merchandise to help support the organizations.

Jerry Tennant, a Special Olympics volunteer, was also extremely happy with the event’s success.

“It went terrific,” he said. “It was a great weekend — warm weather.”

pcowley@bprda.wpengine.com