MINDEMOYA—The OPP Torch Run touched down at Central Manitoulin Public School (CMPS) where it was greeted with cheers and plenty of bright smiles. The OPP officers accompanying the torch shared their burden with students from the school during the “run.”
Just about the entire student and teacher contingent from CMPS joined in the run which was led by Manitoulin’s Special Olympics (MSO) champions. Matthew Bedard and Kelsey Mellan, two athletes who competed internationally in Austria this past winter were joined by MSO Athlete of the Year Dayne Tipper in carrying banners to lead the run in its journey from CMPS to the Mindemoya OPP detachment offices where speeches were made and cake and other refreshments were served.
The Ontario Law Enforcement Torch Run is the largest public awareness vehicle and grassroots fundraiser for Special Olympics. Known honourably as Guardians of the Flame, law enforcement members and Special Olympics athletes carry the “Flame of Hope” into the opening ceremonies of local competitions and into Special Olympics provincial, national, regional and world games. More than 97,000 dedicated and compassionate law enforcement members carry the Flame of Hope during these events to symbolize “courage and celebration of diversity uniting communities around the globe.”
The Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics “engages law enforcement worldwide championing acceptance and inclusion for people with intellectual disabilities, starting first with their own communities.”
While the Torch Run itself is aimed at raising awareness, the event now encompasses a variety of innovative fundraising platforms including Polar Plunges, Tip-A-Cops, NHL Alumni Games, Torch Rides and Endurance Series to name a few. Since its inception (1987 in Ontario), the Torch Run has “raised more than $35,000,000 and changed millions of attitudes.”
Dayne Tipper’s mother related how Special Olympics has impacted her son Dayne. “When he first started he had a challenge to run 50 metres,” she said. “Now, 11 years later, he’s running 1,500 metres and 800 metres in track, and now he is going that distance wearing snowshoes.”
MSO community coordinator Janet Anning recalled the earlier iteration of the Special Olympics on Manitoulin, then noted how the latest organization began from humble beginnings as a bowling team to grow into an organization that competes in dozens of categories. She went on to point out that the opportunity for people to compete against their peers has had a dramatic impact on the athletes lives and encouraged them to stretch to their fullest potential. “You don’t just get to go because you want to go,” she said. “You have to work hard for the opportunity.”
MSO athlete Matt Bedard recalled his experience getting into athletics. “When I saw Kelsey and my other friends competing, it looked like they were having a blast,” he said. He went on to speak of how much he had learned through the process. “It’s been great,” he said. His success includes three gold medals at the nationals in Newfoundland. “Never give up,” he said. “Keep doing what you do to be the best that you can be.”
