Write a commentOn Wednesday, May 31, members of local law enforcement will carry the “Flame of Hope” 12 miles from the Oswego Police Department to the Fulton Police Department in its annual Law Enforcement Torch Run® for Special Olympics New York. Members the Oswego Police Department, Fulton Police Department, Oswego County Sheriff’s Department and New York State Police will participate.
LETR seeks to raise awareness and funds for Special Olympics New York athletes. LETR is a year-round, grassroots fundraising campaign by law enforcement agencies across the globe to benefit local Special Olympics programs. Each year, officers carry the “Flame of Hope” through the streets of their hometowns and countries to deliver it to their local, state and national Special Olympics games. In 2016, New York LETRs raised over $2 million statewide in support of local Special Olympics athletes.
“Over 1,200-members of our central New York law enforcement community take part in Torch Run events across the region, including Oswego County. As guardians of the Flame of Hope, we hope to raise awareness and funds for our Special Olympics athletes here in New York.” said event organizer, Lt. Charlie Searor of the Oswego Police Department.
In addition to supporting Special Olympics athletes, LETR raises funds for the Special Olympics New York Summer Games. This year’s summer games will be held June 16 and 17 at Siena College in the capital district. Thousands of individuals, including Special Olympics New York athletes, coaches and volunteers, are expected to attend the weekend of competition. Competitions include basketball, volleyball, track & field, tennis, bowling, gymnastics, swimming and powerlifting.
Special Olympics is the largest amateur sports organization in the world. With over 68,000 athletes, Special Olympics New York is the largest chapter in North America and the 6th largest chapter in the world. Special Olympics New York athletes train and compete year-round in 22 sports, at no cost to the athlete, their families or their caregivers. For more information or to donate, please visit www.nyso.org.
Members of the media and the public are invited to join at the start and finish of Law Enforcement Torch Run® for Special Olympics New York.
The LETR route and estimated times are as follows:
9:00AM Start: Oswego Police Department 169 WEST 2ND St, Left onto Utica St.
9:10AM Mile 1: Right 481 at E 1st St.
9:20AM Mile 2: 481 at Wood Ridge
9:30AM Mile 3: 481 at Church Hill Rd
9:40AM Mile 4: 481 at mile marker 43.6
9:50AM Mile 5: 481 at mile marker 42.6
10:00AM Mile 6: 481 at mile marker 41.6
10:10AM Mile 7: 481 at mile marker 40.6
10:20AM Mile 8: 481 at mile marker 39.6
10:30AM Mile 9: 481 at mile marker 38.6
10:40AM Mile 10: 481 at mile marker 37.6
10:50AM Mile 11: 81 at MiMi’s
11:00AM Right on to Oneida St., Left on to North 1st St.
11:0AM Mile 12: End at Fulton PD
The Law Enforcement Torch Run® (LETR) for Special Olympics engages law enforcement worldwide championing acceptance and inclusion for people with intellectual disabilities, starting first with their own communities. Over the years the Torch Run has evolved and now encompasses a variety of innovative fundraising platforms to include Plane Pulls, Polar Plunges, Tip-A-Cops, and more. Since inception, LETR has raised more than half a billion dollars and changed millions of attitudes. Through the partnership of LETR and Special Olympics, we provide opportunities for athletes to empower and transform themselves, their communities and the world. LETR is changing the future for people with intellectual disabilities and lighting the way for acceptance and inclusion.
The mission of Special Olympics is to provide year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities. This gives them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy and participate in a sharing of gifts, skills and friendship with their families, other Special Olympics athletes and the community. “Let me win. But if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt.”
