Chuck Seaver, South Lake Tablet
Members of the Clermont Police and Fire Departments, along with the Lake County Sheriff’s Office and Florida Highway Patrol came together on Tuesday, April 23rd to participate in the annual Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics Florida. Joined by approximately eighty walkers and runners, the event kicked off at the Special Olympics Headquarters located at 1915 Don Wickham Drive in Clermont. The group of supporters, led by Clermont Police Chief Chuck Broadway, ran or walked a course that led to Oakley Seaver Drive, Hancock Road, and Legends Way. The participants took a brief recess at Legends Way and Don Wickham Drive to allow the supporters to regroup as one in unity and teamwork while crossing the finish line at the Special Olympics Headquarters.
Special Olympics is a global organization that serves athletes with intellectual disabilities while working with hundreds of thousands of volunteers and coaches each year. Special Olympics provides year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities. Those activities give the participants continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy, and participate in the sharing of gifts, skills, and friendships.
The Clermont Police Department has been a long-time advocate and support team for the SOF organization through fundraising and participating in the annual Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics Florida. The Torch Run gains the support of over 300 Florida law enforcement agencies each year. With nearly 5,000 police officers participating statewide, the run includes a 1500-mile relay through 67 Florida counties before ending at the opening ceremony of the annual state summer games. The state summer games begin on May 17th at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex and USTA National Campus, 700 South Victory Way, Orlando.
Visit www.specialolympicsflorida.org to learn more about the non-profit organization and its mission statement.
