3 days ago
Local Special Olympics torch run marks 39 years
ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) — Special Olympics athletes know most events have a start and finish.
A torch run Friday started at Cobbs Hill Park.
'I know it's a little rain, but we got through it,' Special Olympic athlete Jacob Babcock said.
At the run, Babcock reconnected with some of the members of local law enforcement who ran with him during the pandemic.
'So me, Erin, John 'Pre,' and all them and Brett Sobrieraski and Monroe County Sheriff Todd Baxter, we all came together, it was such an amazing process,' Babcock said.
He's talking about Rochester Police Detective Erin Rogers.
She helps with the Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics.
'As soon as you see the athletes and see how excited they are to see you and how they're supportive of you, there's nothing better than that and you just want to support them back,' Rogers said.
Cori Piels, also an athlete, will tell you that relationship means a lot.
'It's so nice to have the support of law enforcement. If we didn't have them, we wouldn't be doing this,' Piels said.
The two groups have been doing the torch run together for 39 years.
The event gives Chris Teich and everyone else a chance to celebrate all things Special Olympics.
'It embodies family, friendship, leadership and so much more,' athlete Chris Teich said.
This year's course took them through Park Ave and all the way to Parcel 5 where they stopped running, making it look like this event is one of those that has a finish, but because of the bond between all of them, there's no end in sight.
Friday's torch run is part of a series happening across the state.
That series will end in Ithaca where the Special Olympics summer games will later in June.
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