Offering Greater Sudbury’s Special Olympics programming an annual boost, city police held their Law Enforcement Torch Run on Thursday.
“It is really about breaking down barriers on both sides,” Police Chief Paul Pedersen said, adding that their goal is to ensure people are not afraid of police and that police officers become friends with athletes who have special needs. Greater Sudbury Special Olympics community co-ordinator Lynne Houle told Sudbury.com that there are more than 300 local athletes involved in their program, who are helped out by more than 60 coaches covering 18 sports.
Special Olympic’s isn’t a single annual event — or once every four years event like the Olympic Games — and consists of various events throughout the year, including regionals, provincials and nationals.Thursday’s torch run event raised at least $2,000 in t-shirt sales alone, though GSPS Sgt. and Law Enforcement Torch Run co-ordinator Hally Willmott told Sudbury.com this total will grow.