THUNDER BAY – The rain may have forced them inside, but Special Olympians didn’t let a little bad weather put a damper on their mood.
Dozens of athletes on Sunday flocked to the St. Patrick High School gym, a last-minute substitution for Chapples Park, to take part in the annual Law Enforcement Torch Run, an event that helps raise money to allow Special Olympians to take part in sporting events locally and around the world.
Nadine Simmons was one of the athletes who helped carry the torch around the St. Pat’s gym, and said it’s a chance to showcase the Special Olympics movement in Thunder Bay, which organizers said is bursting at the seams, with so many participants taking part in the variety of sports offered locally.
“Participating in Special Olympics allows me to get better at my communications skills and to meet other people and to learn new things and have fun,” Simmons said.
Having so many law enforcement workers, including Police Chief Darcy Fleury and Deputy Chief Ryan Hughes, supporting the cause is great to see too, she added.
“It’s great to have all of their support and knowing they’re helping to raise funds for us to help us participate in what we love to do,” Simmons said.
Keith Nutley, a conservation officer with the Ministry of Natural Resource and Forestry, said Special Olympics is an important endeavour in the community and a key fundraiser to help cover the costs of the programming offered year-round, sports that include everything from cross-country skiing and figure skating, to bocce ball and basketball.
“All our funds raised through the Law Enforcement Torch Run goes back to local Special Olympics, and Special Olympics in Ontario,” Nutley said.
“It’s fun to get out and be with the athletes. It’s a celebration, kind of thing.”
Nutley said the fundraising provides opportunities for athletes to travel throughout the world, pointing to the World Special Olympics Games taking place in Berlin.
“Locally, we get to send our athletes down to provincials in Toronto and their accommodations and airfare are all paid for, and a lot of that is through the Law Enforcement Torch Run,” Nutley said.
“The Law Enforcement Torch Run Ontario alone raised $1.9 million last year for Special Olympics.”
For more information about the Torch Run, visit www.specialolympics.ca.
