Over 1,000 people hit the track to raise money for Special Olympics Ontario during the annual Law Enforcement Torch Run (LETR) at North Park Collegiate on Thursday, September 19, 2024.
During the event, local Special Olympic athletes, members of the Brantford Police Service and the Ontario Provincial Police, West Region, as well as North Park staff and students, were all smiles as they gathered together to support the cause.
The annual event is the largest public awareness vehicle and grass-roots fundraiser for the provincial Special Olympics, and proceeds raised go directly towards supporting community programs that help pay for various expenses including travel, accommodations, meals, staff support, community programs, volunteer and athlete training, school programs and more.
Since its start in 1987, more than $46 million has been raised in Ontario alone.
Christine McCallum, a Detective with the BPS, said that this year, local participants were working to raise money for the Special Olympics Provincial Games, which will be held in Brantford in July 2025.
“Our big focus right now is the 2025 Special Olympics Provincial Games, it’s going to be a big event that will be hosted by the Brantford Police, Six Nations Police and the Ontario Provincial Police,” she said. “It’s a huge endeavor that we’re all really looking forward to and we’ve been at hard work selling shirts and getting into the community to help raise the money needed for the Games.”
Throughout the event, many participants completed several laps around the track with some racing their friends or simply walking side by side to the music, while others were sure to get a photo taken with the BPS mascot, Rookie.
Overall, McCallum, who has also taken on the role of Games Manager for the 2025 event, said she was thrilled with the day’s turnout.
“It’s been awesome seeing everyone out here and I love having a great team who have worked together to put this on,” she said. “Great weather, great smiles, great laughs, great music and a great cause… what else could you ask for?”
Kimberly De Jong’s reporting is funded by the Canadian government through its Local Journalism Initiative.The funding allows her to report rural and agricultural stories from Blandford-Blenheim and Brant County. Reach her at kimberly.dejong@brantbeacon.ca.
