Special Olympics torch run tours Grey-Bruce communities

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At the age of 61, Martin Soder is no stranger to taking part in the Special Olympics. But on Thursday, he experienced something new when he took part in his first Law Enforcement Torch Run in support of Special Olympics Ontario.

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“It was my first time doing the torch run, but I have always wanted to do it and I finally did,” Soder said at Victoria Park over the lunch hour following the torch run’s morning tour through a number of Grey-Bruce communities.

“I loved everything about it. I went through a lot of communities and was waving at everyone and fist-bumping everyone. It was very exhilarating.”

Soder took part in the Special Olympics Canada Winter Games in Calgary in February in five-pin bowling, but also plays bocce and golf.

“I conquered Calgary,” said Soder, who came home with two silver medals from the games.

Local Special Olympics athletes were joined by local police services as they ran routes through a number of communities across Grey-Bruce, including Port Elgin, Hanover, Durham and Owen Sound. Along the way they were cheered along by members of the community.

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The final leg in Owen Sound saw the athletes joined by law enforcement and other members of the community as they carried the torch through the downtown along 2^nd Avenue East, before heading up the 10^th Street East hill to Victoria Park, where they were met by a large crowd that joined them in a loop of the running track. After some pictures everyone gathered in the park for a big barbecue. With temperatures in the high 20s and feeling like the low to mid-30s with the humidex, plenty of water was downed after the run.

It was also 10-year-old Colton Wood’s first experience taking part in a torch run. The youngster, who enjoys swimming, said the torch run experience was tiring, but fun.

“After a bit your legs kind of get tired, but it is pretty fun meeting all the policemen and then you get freezies,” said Wood.

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Aimee Gilchrist, 45, has taken part in too many torch runs to count, but she said the experience never gets old.

“I have done it a lot, when I was in public school and in high school,” said Gilchrist. “It is fun meeting new people and seeing all the people I know.”

While last year’s Owen Sound leg took the athletes up the 9^th Street West hill to Owen Sound District Secondary School for a barbecue, this year organizers decided to go even bigger with the 10^th Street East hill.

Matthew Poste, 39, said despite the heat this year, the experience was a lot of fun, with the hill being the best part.

“It was good. I did a lot of work training for it,” said Poste, who enjoys swimming, bocce and golf among other sports. “I just like running.”

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Kyle Weatherhead, 38, said the experience on Thursday was “awesome.”

“It was fun going to the different communities and seeing my friends,” said Weatherhead, who enjoys swimming and five-pin bowling. “There were crowds in each community cheering us on.”

Owen Both, 19, said he had a lot of fun visiting the communities and seeing so many people.

“Everyone all around are all having a fun time,” said Both, who plays bocce, golf, swimming, skiing, floor hockey and walking club.

The Ontario Law Enforcement Torch Run is the largest public awareness and grassroots fundraiser for Special Olympics.

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 world. Among the local police services joining the athletes along the way Thursday were the Owen Sound Police Service, Saugeen Shores Police, Hanover Police, West Grey Police and the OPP.

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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.

Owen Sound Police Chief Craig Ambrose said after Thursday’s torch run that the event is always fun and something they look forward to being part of each year.

“We get to take off that face of being a police officer and be part of the community, like we always try to do,” Ambrose said. “We get to work with our Special Olympic athletes who are the charity of choice for the police services and the Chiefs of Police association, but really it is all about the athletes.”

Ambrose said the event not only raises funds to help those athletes, but also raises awareness and champions the importance of inclusion and equity.

“I think that is really the message for the whole community, and we see it with the turnout here and the number of people who were here to support the athletes when they came into the park,” said Ambrose. “It was like that in every town we went through today. It was about people coming out and cheering them on.”

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