Special Olympics will be the beneficiary of the Law Enforcement Torch Run again this year.
Image Credit: Special Olympics B.C.
September 10, 2014 - 2:57 PM
KAMLOOPS - Local RCMP officers are gearing up for the second annual Torch Run and to spice things up this year they are including zombies.
The Bridging the Gap Law Enforcement Torch Run is put on by the local RCMP detachment and is set to raise money for Special Olympics B.C. Last year about $2,500 was raised and organizer Const. Meg Grainger says they are hoping to beat that number this year.
Participants, which will include regular and civilian RCMP members, Department of Fisheries and Oceans staff and parole members as well as members of the general public, can choose between a five kilometre walk or run or the 13 km run or team relay. Those who are more adventurous can choose to do the two kilometre Zombie Shuffle as well.
“This year we’ve also added a zombie shuffle,” Grainger says, “Number one because we’re close to Halloween and number two 'cause why not? Zombies are fun. Come out in your finest zombie apparel (and) if you want to do the 13 km run in zombie apparel, power to you. I just might do that too.”
The RCMP connection with Special Olympics began in 1987 with a wide range of initiatives, including the Torch Run, and in the last 24 years $3.4 million has been raised in B.C. for Special Olympics athletes and programs.
Across Canada there are now more than 32,000 registered Special Olympics participants and a number of those athletes will be in Kamloops in February 2015 to take part in the national winter games.
The run will begin at Riverside Park on Oct. 18 at 10 a.m. Registration is open online right now.
“The inclusion of sport is what’s really important in our communities,” Grainger notes. “Walk, jog, shuffle. We don’t care, just come out and participate.”
To contact a reporter for this story, email Jennifer Stahn at jstahn@infonews.ca or call 250-819-3723. To contact an editor, email mjones@infonews.ca or call 250-718-2724.
News from © iNFOnews, 2014