More than 140 trucks participated Raleigh, N.C. – Law enforcement and truckers throughout the United States and Canada joined forces to hold the World’s Largest Truck Convoy on Sept. 17, 2011. North Carolina hosted two legs of the Convoy in Charlotte at the Verizon Wireless Amphitheater and in Raleigh at the Time Warner Cable Music Pavilion at Walnut Creek. A total of 141 trucks participated and $36,067 was raised, according to Keith L. Fishburne, Special Olympics North Carolina president/CEO.
“The support for Special Olympics from the trucking industry and the drivers was tremendous this year,” said Keith L. Fishburne, president/CEO of Special Olympics North Carolina. “This event continues to grow each and every year. We are so thankful to the truckers and law enforcement officers that made this event a huge success!”
The local legs of the World’s Largest Truck Convoy (WLTC) are part of an international event which attracted more than 2,000 truckers in more than 30 states and two Canadian provinces. Truckers in North Carolina traveled 28 miles in Raleigh and Charlotte and then celebrated with local Special Olympics athletes during lunch. The bidding for the Lead Truck designation in Raleigh was won by Wild Bill Express owned and operated by Robert, Deborah and BJ Beal of Sanford and run under United Transport. Wild Bill Express raised $3,500 for Special Olympics North Carolina. The Beal’s switched positions with the Last Truck so that Calvin Byrd of C&D Drifter (raised $500) and his daughter who participates in Special Olympics could lead the Convoy. In Charlotte, Tim Haynes, Yarde Metals earned the Lead Truck designation with the $1,050 he raised and Quality Custom Distribution won the Last Truck honors having raised $650.
The WLTC began in 2001 by Corp. Norm Schneiderhan, special project coordinator with the Orange County Sheriffs Office in Florida. Schneiderhan, who drove a truck for about three years in his father’s trucking company before he entered the field of law enforcement, launched the event for Special Olympics as a way to call attention to the organization among truckers.
The North Carolina Truck Convoy routes were supported by: Freightliner, Old Dominion Freight Line, Con-way Freight, CommScope, UPS, and Blue Rhino/Ferrellgas. Raleigh leg event sponsors include Time Warner Cable Music Pavilion at Walnut Creek, Danny’s BBQ, Jersey Mike’s Subs and Aramark. Verizon Wireless Amphitheater, Quality Custom Distribution, Chick-fil-A and Hooters were event sponsors for the Charlotte leg.
Special Olympics North Carolina offers year-round sports training and competition for more than 38,000 children and adults with intellectual disabilities. These athletes inspire greatness through their success and provide motivation to the thousands of coaches, sports officials, local program committee members and event organizers involved in Special Olympics statewide. SONC offers Olympic-type competition in 19 sports on local and state levels. It is among the largest Special Olympics programs in the world in terms of athlete participation.
