Be a Fan of Inspiration ...
"When I first started playing two years ago, I wasn't that good," Bowers said. "I am better at the game now because I practice all the time."
Be a Fan of Inclusion ...
Sanders found a new meaning to life when he joined Special Olympics. He said that being a part of this is keeping him off the streets and it's something to look forward to because he made new friends.
Be a Fan of Sport ...
Martinez, who is from Sullivan County and is coached by Melissa Ebeling, believes that the Special Olympics has helped him stay motivated as well keeping positive.
Who Are The Law Enforcement Torch Run (LETR)
The Law Enforcement Torch Run (LETR) for Special Olympics is a year-round fundraising and awareness movement organized by law enforcement officers from around the world. In 2009 alone, officers from 35 countries raised more than $34 million for Special Olympics programs.
New York Torch Run
Each year, law enforcement officers from across the state raise money and awareness for the athletes of Special Olympics New York by participating in the Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics. For more than 24 years thousands of officers from hundreds of agencies across New York have been participating in LETR initiatives. For the first time ever in 2008, law enforcement officials raised over $1,000,000 for our athletes.
How It Works
More than 3,000 officers from Buffalo all the way to Long Island carry the "Flame of Hope" across the state from May through June 4th where the Torch will come into Opening Ceremonies of the 2010 Summer State Games in Utica, NY . The Torch will also stop in local communities for Regional Games across the state.
In addition to the Torch Runs, there are many special events that take place throughout the year to raise funds for the athletes of Special Olympics New York. These Torch Run events not only raise money but also awareness for the Special Olympics movement, and involve literally thousands of law enforcement officers who volunteer their time to plan and organize events like the LETR Polar Plunge Series, Applebee's Law & Orders, Over the Edge and Golf Outings.
The History
The Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics, the largest grassroots fundraising program benefiting Special Olympics, began in 1981 when Wichita , Kansas Police Chief Richard LaMunyon saw an urgent need to raise funds for and increase awareness of Special Olympics.
The idea for the Torch Run was to provide local law enforcement officers with an opportunity to volunteer with Special Olympics in the communities where the officers lived and worked. After three years of successful runs in Kansas , Chief LaMunyon presented his idea to the International Association of Chiefs of Police, which endorsed Special Olympics as its official charity through the Torch Run. Today, all 50 states and over 40 countries have their own versions of the Torch Run.