Members of the Clermont Police Department (CPD), Lake County Sheriff’s Office and multi-agency members of the Mid-Florida SWAT Team came together on Friday, March 28^th to participate in the Annual Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics Florida.

The opening ceremonies, held at the Special Olympics Headquarters located at 1915 Don Wickham Drive, Clermont, were led by CPD Captain Malcolm Draper with an invocation by CPD Chaplain Dawn Carter. Welcoming the attendees were Clermont Mayor Tim Murry, Interim Police Chief John Graczyk, Director of Special Olympics Florida Ken Roop and Special Olympics Athlete Louis Martinez.

The group of walkers and runners, led by Chief John Graczyk, took on the annual 5K trek that led to Oakley Seaver Drive, Hancock Road, and Legends Way. The participants took a brief recess at Legends Way to allow the supporters to regroup as one in unity and teamwork while crossing the finish line together 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 Special Olympics of Florida organization through fundraising and participating in the annual Law Enforcement Torch Run. 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 16^th at the ESPN Wide World of Sports 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.

Members of the Clermont Police Department (CPD), Lake County Sheriff’s Office and multi-agency members of the Mid-Florida SWAT Team came together on Friday, March 28^th to participate in the annual Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics Florida.

The opening ceremonies, held at the Special Olympics Headquarters located at 1915 Don Wickham Drive, Clermont, were led by CPD Captain Malcolm Draper with an invocation by CPD Chaplain Dawn Carter. Welcoming the attendees were Clermont Mayor Tim Murry, Interim Police Chief John Graczyk, Director of Special Olympics Florida Ken Roop and Special Olympics Athlete Louis Martinez.

The group of walkers and runners, led by Chief John Graczyk, took on the annual 5K trek that led to Oakley Seaver Drive, Hancock Road, and Legends Way. The participants took a brief recess at Legends Way to allow the supporters to regroup as one in unity and teamwork while crossing the finish line together 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 Special Olympics of Florida organization through fundraising and participating in the annual Law Enforcement Torch Run. 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 16^th at the ESPN Wide World of Sports 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.

The post Annual Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics Florida appeared first on South Lake Tablet.

Each year, over 5,000 officers carry the torch on a 1500-mile relay through 67 counties in Florida. Law enforcement officers from over 300 Florida agencies, police departments, sheriff’s offices, Florida Department of Corrections, Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Drug Enforcement Agency, U.S. Customs, Air Force Police and Florida Fish and Wild Life Conservation Commission (FWCC), all participate in the state-wide torch run to benefit the athletes of Special Olympics Florida.

The Torch Run raises funds and awareness for year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities.

Clermont Police Chief Charles Broadway carried the torch in a 2.5-mile-long loop, winding up and down hills along Oakley Seaver Driver (South Lake Trail), Don Wickham Drive, Hancock Road and Legends Way and back to the starting line.

Special Olympic Events in South Lake 

The post The Clermont Police Department Hosted The Lake County Segment Of The Special Olympics Torch Run appeared first on South Lake Tablet.

This annual and much anticipated Torch Run, complete with a lighted torch, raises funds and awareness for year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities.

The Special Olympics call Clermont home and its headquarters are located at 1915 Don Wickham Drive. Registration begins at 9:15 am at the headquarters. A short welcome ceremony will begin at 9:45 a.m. and at 10 a.m. walkers will begin.

The course is about 2.5 miles long and winds up and down hills along Oakley Seaver Driver (South Lake Trail), Don Wickham Drive, Hancock Road and Legends Way then loops back to the starting line. Runners will begin at 10:25 a.m.

This year’s run is expected to draw more than 175 runners/walkers, including law enforcement officers from several Central Florida agencies. For more information on the 40th Annual Law Enforcement Torch Run, visit www.specialolympicsflorida.org.

The post Clermont Police Host Annual Special Olympics Torch Run Clermont appeared first on South Lake Tablet.

The torch run raises funds and awareness for year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities. Special Olympics is headquartered right here in Clermont.

Registration begins at 9:00 am in the parking lot of the Special Olympics Headquarters at 1915 Don Wickham Drive, Clermont Florida 34711.

A brief ceremony will be held at 9:45 am. The walkers will begin at 10:00 am and runners will begin at 10:20 am. The run/walk is approximately 2-1/2 miles and will begin and end at the Special Olympics Headquarters.

To learn more, visit Law Enforcement Torch Run (specialolympicsflorida.org). 

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