The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
IN SUPPORT OF SPECIAL OLYMPICS
Law Enforcement Torch Run marks 31st year
The pride in Jim Savage’s voice is almost palpable when discussing the Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics Ohio.
This annual event, in which thousands of law enforcement officials run, walk and bike across Ohio, is taking place June 15-23 in support of Ohio Special Olympics athletes and the opening of the 2017 Special Olympics State Summer Games.
“With all the tragedy in the world, this is really something to celebrate,” the Euclid police captain said. “These athletes know who we are, but they don’t really see us in this capacity a lot. Participating in this run and supporting Special Olympics is the most rewarding thing I’ve done in 30 years of law enforcement.
“I’ve been doing this for many years, and every year we rotate. The Mentor SWAT team is running the torch in this year. I like the history of this event, too. It’s evolved.
“I like getting into the smaller communities and meeting people and sharing ideas,” he said. “Law enforcement works together throughout the state and this is a great way to network together.”
The Ohio Law Enforcement Torch Run is the single largest grassroots fundraising program for Special Olympics Ohio and its thousands of participating athletes. The run is in its 31st year.
“Eighty different countries participate in this and it’s represented in all 50 states,” Savage said. “It all started in Wichita, Kansas, in 1981 with six (police) officers asking their chief to work in the community and to be involved with Special Olympics. It began in Ohio in 1987 with a single route from Cincinnati to Columbus, raising a few thousand dollars. Since then, $56 million dollars have been raised worldwide.
“It’s huge. It raises awareness — that’s why I carry the (Flame of Hope) torch. We want to get out in our towns
“With all the tragedy in the world, this is really something to celebrate.” — Jim Savage, Euclid police captain
and in others, where we work, so people know it’s going on.”
This year, more than 2,000 officers are set to participate in the six main legs and several satellite community legs planned throughout the state. In 2016, Ohio Torch Run activities raised more than $500,000.
According to a Special Olympics Ohio news release, The Kroger Co. has generously served as the Presenting Sponsor of the Torch Run for the past 12 years. Torch runners visit Kroger stores as they travel to Columbus on their respective routes in a series of relays. Officials
representing all facets of law enforcement traverse more than 1,000 miles and through more than 150 Ohio communities, with Special Olympics Ohio athletes joining law enforcement personnel on many legs of the run.
The final leg of the Torch Run takes place at the Ohio Highway Patrol Academy in Columbus.
All law enforcement vehicle drivers, bicyclists, motorcyclists, runners and others who arrive in Columbus as part of the Torch Run will proceed, en masse, the final 3.2 miles to Ohio State University’s Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium, where the Flame of Hope will be passed to Special Olympics Ohio athletes at Opening Ceremonies of the 2017 State Summer Games.
Savage said the mission of Special Olympics Ohio is to provide year-round sports training and competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for more than 23,000 children and adults with intellectual disabilities.
“This is more than sports or a run through the state, this has become a family. Two of my daughters have participated. One went on to become a special education teacher because of the experience. It’s uplifting.
“And awareness is needed, every year,” he said. “Eighty-thousand Special Olympic athletes would qualify and participate, it’s been determined through a census, but don’t know it costs nothing or feel they wouldn’t have support. That’s why every year this remains a big
deal. This doesn’t cost any athlete or his or her family a cent. But with social media and community campaigns throughout Northeast Ohio, we keep getting bigger every year.”
One program that helped raise money and awareness for Special Olympics Ohio, Savage said, was Cop and A Donut, a social gathering held at various shops in Euclid, Mentor, Solon, South Euclid, Mayfield Heights and Bainbridge Township.
“This was few weeks ago, and we raised over $6,000 in nine hours. People just flooded to the areas to donate to Special Olympics. It’s a great feeling to know people care. It just shows the generosity of the Cleveland community. And it’s good that law enforcement can get out and have people come together.”
On June 20, the Flame of Hope was carried through western Lake County and eastern Cuyahoga County. More than 2,000 police officers will tour the torch on six main arteries throughout Ohio, before arriving in Columbus. About 60 athletes and 30 volunteers will leave Deepwood Center in Mentor on the morning of June 23 to attend the Summer Games.
Chris Bundy, Special Olympics coordinator with Lake County Board of Developmental Disabilities, said the games wouldn’t exist in the county without the presence and commitment of the board.
“Every dollar donated to goes to them, we take care of 100 percent of the overhead. It’s a special time because this is always a great event.”