Sunday’s rain wasn’t enough to extinguish the spirits of participants in this year’s Law Enforcement Torch Run.
About 100 people came out to run, walk or bike the five-kilometres for the annual Special Olympics fundraiser at Boulevard Lake Sunday morning.
Zone coordinator for the run Warren Giertuga said they usually raise about $1,500 each year, but the event is more about raising awareness of the Special Olympics community in Thunder Bay.
“It allows the opportunity for people to get together and see what the athletes do and get to know some of the athletes on a personal level,” he said, adding the Torch Run is especially important to the athletes.
“This is huge,” Giertuga said. “They talk to me all year about it.”
Denita Minoletti’s daughter Mariah, 13, wasn’t pleased about the rain Sunday, but wouldn’t miss the Torch Run because of the weather.
“They all enjoy being together whether in the rain or even in the wintertime,” said Minoletti, who is also a community volunteer with the local Special Olympics community. “They don’t care how cold it is; they are happy to be out.”
The Torch Run is also a great way for the athletes to help support their own sporting activities, Minoletti said.
Mariah plays baseball and floor hockey and also participates in track and field and bowling in the Special Olympics and Minoletti said the social events are just as important to her daughter and the other athletes as the competition.
“The athletes love everything about the games,” she said. “This is their life. They absolutely love the opportunity to be able to compete whether it be local, provincial or regional. This is their world. It’s all about competing and having fun.”
The Law Enforcement Torch Run is hosted by the OPP, Thunder Bay Police Service, Anishinabek Police Service, Nishnawbe-Aski Police Service, Corrections Canada, Canada Border Services and the Ministry of Natural Resources.
