The Special Olympics Torch Run held its first annual run in Gardendale on May 17 with law enforcement officers that came from various department in the Jefferson and Shelby counties.
Torch Run is a longstanding part of the Special Olympics, the world’s top athletic event for physically and mentally challenged athletes. Policemen from the Gardendale department held a torch while running 16 miles through the city, starting at Gardendale First Baptist Church‘s south campus.
Other policemen came from several different cities in Alabama, including Mountain Brooke, Anniston, Calera and Pelham. With the Gardendale contingent, the participants totaled 15 runners.
The started in Tuscaloosa and went from Bessemer to Gardendale. The torch was then passed to downtown Birmingham. The runners then came back to the Gardendale Civic Center where they enjoyed a much-needed lunch.
On the next day, the torch was passed by other runners to Pelham and then to Montgomery, then all the way to Troy for the opening ceremony of the Alabama Special Olympics.
Torch Run first began in Wichita, Kansas in 1985 and grew into an international tradition with law enforcement groups from all over the world now taking part. Disabled athletes often accompany officers on the run.
Deputy Chief Bob Copus came from the Homewood Police Department to be part of the run. Copus said that the Torch Run was not only about honoring law enforcement, but raising awareness for people with disabilities.
“It’s a great event,” he said. “It’s the best event that nobody’s heard of. It’s such a great thing but not a lot of people have made that connection.”
With this year’s Torch Run, police officers hope to bring more attention to the Special Olympics and what they do for disabled participants.
As part of the Special Olympics, Torch Run is the only sport that is allowed by the International Olympic Committee to imitate the tradition of the torch ceremony.
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Bob Copas, left, and Hazel Butts, center, hand the torch off to Terry Crumpton to begin the Torch Run through Gardendale on Friday. The Torch Run supports Special Olympics, which held its Alabama state games in Troy last weekend. Nathan Prewett
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Police support Special Olympics with Torch Run
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