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The Law Enforcement Torch Run in support of Special Olympics Ontario will make its way through Grey-Bruce on Thursday.
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Local police services will be joining Special Olympics athletes as they run routes through a number of communities in the two counties. The torch run will make stops in Port Elgin, Hanover, Durham, Chatsworth and Owen Sound. The festivities will be capped off with a barbecue at Victoria Park next to the Julie McArthur Regional Recreation Centre. Among the police services joining the athletes along the way are the Owen Sound Police Service, Saugeen Shores Police, Hanover Police, West Grey Police and the OPP.
The public is encouraged to come out and cheer the athletes and law enforcement personnel during the runs in each community.
The run is expected to be in Port Elgin from 7:45 to 8:45 a.m., with the route beginning at Tim Hortons at 618 Gustavus St. and ending at Boston Pizza at 140 Goderich St.
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The run is then to make its way to Hanover, where it is expected to be in that community from 9:30 to 10:15 a.m. It is scheduled to begin at the Hanover clock tower at 351 Tenth St. and end at Grants at 832 Tenth St.
Next, the torch run travels to Durham for a stop scheduled to occur from 10:30 to 11:15 a.m. The Durham leg begins at Foodland at 344 Garafraxa St. S. and ends at the West Grey Police Service at 153 George St. W.
The run is then in Chatsworth from 11:45 a.m. to noon, for a photo opportunity with the OPP at the park and ball diamond at 7 Toronto Sydenham St.
The final leg of the run is scheduled to be in Owen Sound from 12:15 to 1:15 p.m. The city run will begin at the Owen Sound police station at 922 2nd Ave. W. It will head south along 2nd Avenue West before turning left onto 8th Street West, then left onto 2nd Avenue East, and then right onto 10th Street East.
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Run participants will then make their way along 10th Street East and up the hill to Victoria Park, where there will be a final loop of the track before the barbecue lunch.
The Ontario Law Enforcement Torch Run is the largest public awareness and grassroots fundraiser for Special Olympics, it said in a news release from Owen Sound police.
During the run, law enforcement members and Special Olympic athletes carry the Flame of Hope, symbolizing courage, celebrating diversity and championing acceptance, uniting communities around the globe, the release said.
The torch run has evolved over the years and includes a number of other fundraising events, including polar plunges, tip-a-cops, NHL Alumni games, torch rides, endurance series and more. The program has raised more than $46 million and changed millions of attitudes since its inception, the release said.
All funds raised from the torch run are directed into program support that directly affects all community Special Olympics Ontario programs. They help pay for various expenses including games travel, accommodations, meals, staff support, volunteer and athlete training.
The first law enforcement torch run in Canada was held in 1987. Over the years the number of registered athletes has grown from under 4,000 to more than 23,000 today, the release said.
Donations to the Grey-Bruce run can be made online at https://letrontario.crowdchange.ca/69931
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