Latest news with #LawEnforcementTorchRun
Yahoo
a day ago
- General
- Yahoo
Police run torch for Special Olympics this week all across Vermont
SOUTH BURLINGTON, Vt. (ABC22/FOX44) – Police, athletes, and members of the military will be running for a cause throughout Vermont for the next four days. The annual Law Enforcement Torch Run in Vermont will be held this week, from June 3 through 6. Members of the law enforcement community will be carrying the Flame of Hope, the Special Olympics' equivalent to the Olympic Torch, from the four corners of the state all the way to St. Michael's College in Winooski. It is the largest community fundraiser for the Special Olympics organization, which holds the Special Olympics World Games every two years. The torch run will be followed by the annual Special Olympics Vermont Summer Games on June 6 and 7. This year will feature two sports, bocce ball and basketball, with hundreds of athletes joining in. Special Olympics Vermont Penguin Plunge underway this Saturday The event will start in four places simultaneously: in Derby Line and Highgate Springs in northern Vermont, and in Brattleboro and Bennington in southern Vermont. Four torches will be carried separately Tuesday through Thursday, before joining together for two final legs on Friday from Essex Junction to St. Michael's College. Lake Champlain will also get to feature in the event, as one of the four torches will be carried by the Colchester Boating Unit and U.S. Coast Guard over the water from Bayside Beach in Colchester over to Burlington. How staying 'up-to-date' with water quality at Burlington beaches can keep you safe According to the Special Olympics Vermont website, the event brings together more than 91,000 law enforcement officers from 46 countries each year as 'part of a global movement that works year-round to foster inclusion and acceptance of people with intellectual disabilities by using the power of sport.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
CTV News
5 days ago
- General
- CTV News
Law Enforcement Torch run sees a big turnout in support of Special Olympics Ontario
The Law Enforcement Torch Run ended at WRPS headquarters on May 29, 2025. (CTV News/Sidra Jafri) Over 200 participants took part in the Law Enforcement Torch Run Thursday morning in support of Special Olympics Ontario. Runners, walkers and police officers took multiple routes across Kitchener as part of the event. Their journey ended at the Waterloo Regional Police Service's headquarters in Cambridge. Bill Smith was proud to take part. He was reflecting on what it was like to compete when he was in the 2015 Special Olympics World Summer Games in Los Angeles, California, USA. 'I got a gold medal, a silver medal and a fourth-place pin,' said Smith. The goal is to promote inclusion for Special Olympics athletes with the event. 'The athletes inspire the police officers. Their dedication. Their motto 'let me win and if I cannot win let me be brave in the attempt 'pretty much explains what this event is all about,' said Derek Spence, Torch Run liaison. The event has been happening since 1987. According to Special Olympics Ontario's website, the Law Enforcement Torch Run is the largest public awareness and grassroots fundraising organization for Special Olympics globally.
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
GCSO takes and passes the torch
OXFORD — The Granville County Sheriff's Office participated in the Law Enforcement Torch Run for the Special Olympics on Tuesday. The 2.4-mile run started at J.F. Webb High School and ended at the traffic circle on Main Street. The Creedmoor Police Department passed the torch to the Butner Police Department earlier. The last leg of the Granville County run placed the torch with the Granville County Sheriff's Office. At the traffic circle, the Granville County Sheriff's Office passed the torch to Vance County. Vance was scheduled to pass the torch on Wednesday morning, but the ceremony was cancelled due to heavy rains. Sheriff Fountain thanks all participants, including Mayor Nurse of Oxford, officers and staff from Butner and Creedmoor Police Departments, Murdoch, and GCSO staff. Immediately following the passing of the torch, the GCSO partnered with Little Caesar's Pizza for a community Pizza, Pizza Pun Night in the parking lot at Granville Corners. A percentage of all sales went to the Shop with the Sheriff. Started by the chief of the Witchita, Kansas Police Department in 1981, The Torch Run has become the largest year-round public awareness and grassroots fundraising campaign for Special Olympics. Known as Guardians of the Flame, law enforcement members and Special Olympics athletes carry the Flame of Hope into the opening ceremony of local competitions, and into Special Olympics state, national, regional and world Games. More than 110,000 law enforcement members around the country carry the Flame of Hope every year. In North Carolina, nearly 2,000 law enforcement personnel support the annual run. The torch run engages law enforcement worldwide, championing acceptance and inclusion for people with intellectual disabilities, starting first with their own communities. Since its inception, the run has raised approximately $1 billion worldwide with over $33 million raised for Special Olympics North Carolina.
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Law Enforcement Torch Run in Decatur raises money, awareness for Special Olympics
May 17—Logan Mortensen, investigator for the Morgan County Sheriff's Office, found a place in the crowd among other officers and runners at the starting point of the annual Law Enforcement Torch Run in Decatur on Friday that benefits the Special Olympics. "It's for a good cause, and it's also good exercise," said Mortensen, 27, from Somerville. "It's for all the people out there with special needs; it's honoring them. ... We love when everybody participates for this cause." Started in 1981 in Wichita, Kansas, the Law Enforcement Torch Run sees more than 97,000 law enforcement members across all 50 states carry the torch, called the "Flame of Hope," into the opening ceremonies of local Special Olympics competitions. With the support of the International Association of Chiefs of Police, the Torch Run has become the largest public awareness and fundraising group for the Special Olympics. Former Decatur police Chief Ed Taylor, who died last year, is credited with bringing the Torch Run to Morgan County and it is done in his honor. His wife, Carol Taylor, was at the event with their son Lane Barnes, who has participated in the Special Olympics, selling T-shirts. Taylor said her husband loved the Special Olympics program. "He has done things like a fundraiser where they'd go up on the roof of Walmart and stay up there until they raised a certain amount of money," she said. "He was up there one night, and I was at home in bed asleep, of course. There was a horrible storm. I mean it was thunder and lightning — a take-cover kind of storm. I thought I should really call him and tell him to come down. "And then I thought, that's useless because he's not moving." Taylor said all the local law enforcement are family. "It's an honor to just be here. It's just a wonderful, wonderful thing. ... It was a good group. I'm happy to see them all participating. It's good to see the Special Olympics program grow," Taylor said. "My son Lane has benefited so much from that program. I couldn't begin to tell you what the Special Olympics has done for him." There were T-shirts for sale for runners and anyone else interested. About 50 T-shirts were sold at $20 each, raising about $1,000 for the Special Olympics. There were about 25 runners with the torch on Friday. A Morgan County Sheriff's Office patrol car activated its sirens and lights ahead of the group, while two more plus a Decatur Police Department patrol car followed behind. "We love supporting our special Olympiads, and the Special Olympics is close to law enforcement," said Morgan County Sheriff Ron Puckett. "We want to partner with them, and we've done that for many, many years. So, having the opportunity to do that again this year is a great reward for us." Interim Decatur Police Chief Nadis Carlisle said fundraising is just one of the good things that comes from the Torch Run. "It means that we get to celebrate those who may be challenged somewhat," he said. "We give them things to do; we give them sports." — or 256-340-2460.
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Cop on a Rooftop event raises money for Special Olympics athletes
Local police officers were hanging out on the rooftops at some Dunkin' locations on Friday to collect money to support Special Olympics Iowa and Illinois. The Cop on a Rooftop event is a fundraiser for the Law Enforcement Torch Run in preparation for the Special Olympics. Everyone who donated got a free doughnut, and some visitors were rewarded with morning coffee. Organizers say law enforcement helps with Special Olympics in many different areas. More than 300 locations participated Friday in Cop on a Rooftop. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
