Raleigh, NC — North Carolina received a ruby level of excellence award by the executive council of the International Law Enforcement Torch Run for raising $976,000 during the 2011 Law Enforcement Torch Run campaign year, according to Keith L. Fishburne, president/CEO of Special Olympics North Carolina.
The award was presented during the annual International Law Enforcement Torch Run Conference, which was held in Calgary, Alberta Nov. 2-6. More than 1,000 law enforcement officials and Special Olympics staff from around the world, including 13 from North Carolina, attended.
SONCathlete Zach Commander runs with officers in the 2011 TR Final Leg.
The NCLETR was one of only three Torch Run Programs from around the world to receive the ruby award. North Carolina officers were also awarded third place in the International Association of Chiefs of Police Photo Contest for a photograph in the “Spirit Award” category. The winning photo depicts Special Olympics NC athlete Zach Commander of Elizabeth City carrying the Flame of Hope and leading law enforcement officers to the 2011 Special Olympics NC Summer Games Opening Ceremonies at the Time Warner Cable Music Pavilion at Walnut Creek in Raleigh.
The North Carolina Law Enforcement Torch Run delegation at the International Torch Run Conference consisted of officers from the Chapel Hill Police Department, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department, Landis Police Department, Matthews Police Department, Raleigh Police Department, Winston-Salem Police Department, Guilford County Sheriff’s Office, and the NC State Highway Patrol.
The LETR began 30 years ago with founder, Chief Richard LaMunyon, and five law enforcement officers who carried the Torch for the Special Olympics Kansas Summer Games in Wichita. The LETR has since become much more than an annual run for Special Olympics Summer Games. For the many involved with the LETR it represents honor, respect and pride. It has become a worldwide community of Law Enforcement officers rallying to support Special Olympics, the impetus for millions of new friendships around the world, and a series of events including Torch Runs, Polar Plunge® fundraisers, and Tip-A-Cop® events.
The LETR is the largest grassroots fundraiser for Special Olympics with more than 85,000 law enforcement participants around the world. It was announced at the conference that the LETR raised more than $42.6 million in 2011 for Special Olympics athletes and a cumulative sum of more than $410 million since its inception in 1981.
The NCLETR involves more than 2,000 law enforcement officers representing more than 150 agencies. In addition to raising funds through collecting sponsorships, T-shirt and hat donations and unique fundraising events, the officers take part in a 2,000-mile, 16-day torch relay with the Flame of Hope, culminating in the lighting of the cauldron to officially open the Special Olympics North Carolina Summer Games each summer in Raleigh.
“I am very proud to be involved with such a dedicated group of law enforcement officers,” said NC Torch Run Director, Bill Frick, retired detective of the Chapel Hill Police Department. “The Torch Run officers work hard for the Special Olympics athletes in North Carolina and we hope our work in 2012 will raise $1 million for these inspiring athletes!”
Sponsors for the 2011 North Carolina Law Enforcement Torch Run are: Premier – Credit Suisse; Gold- North Carolina Supplemental Retirement Plans, NC State Employees Combined Campaign, Mark Jacobson Toyota, ResCare, Walmart and Powers Great American Midways; Silver –,Daimler Trucks/Freightliner, Food Lion, DMJ; Bronze- Chick-fil-A, Progress Energy, UNC Healthcare, Bob Barker Detention Supplier, Old Dominion Freight Line, Biscuitville, Mike Johnson’s Hickory Toyota, Capital Ford, Suntrust and US Food Service.
About NC Law Enforcement Torch Run
The Law Enforcement Torch Run® for Special Olympics is officially endorsed by the International Association of Chiefs of Police, the North Carolina Association of Chiefs of Police, the National Sheriff’s Association, the North Carolina Sheriff’s Association, the International Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators, the National Association of School Resource Officers, NC Association of School Resource Officers, NC Department of Justice and the NC Department of Correction.
About Special Olympics North Carolina
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. Visit Special Olympics North Carolina at www.specialolympicsnc.com. Engage with us on http://twitter.com/sonc_beafan; http://www.facebook.com/SpecialOlympicsNC and http://www.youtube.com/BeAFanSONC.
