Stepping Up for Special Olympians

On Thursday, May 29, at 1:30 p.m., the Toronto Police Service will be holding their annual Law Enforcement Torch Run in support of Special Olympics Ontario.

Members of the Service will be accompanied by members of the public and Special Olympian athletes who will be running/walking through the streets of Toronto to raise awareness and money for Special Olympics Ontario.

The Law Enforcement Torch Run is a community based, province-wide event that sees the "Flame of Hope" carried across Ontario by members of Law Enforcement agencies. The Law Enforcement Torch Run has grown into the most important fund raising effort of Special Olympics programs around the world.

Members of the Toronto Police Service raise money for Special Olympics Ontario through the purchase of a Torch Run T-Shirt and other fund-raising events such as barbeques and silent auctions. This year in addition to the Torch Run, the Toronto Police Service has been asked to assist 21 Special Olympians who have all qualified to attend the National Summer Games in Vancouver this July. Each athlete has needs to raise $1000 on their own to attend the games. The Toronto Police Service has set goal of raising $21,000 to cover all the athletes.

In order to reach the goal of $21,000, members of the Service receive pledges for their participation in the Torch Run from family and friends. In addition, donations are also being collected along the route of the run.