By Lindsey Rowland
lrowland@wbcowqel.com
In Ohio, it is said that all roads lead to Columbus and for 2,000 law enforcement officers it will end this weekend at The Ohio State University for the 2015 Ohio Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics.
This annual event is presented by The Kroger Company and began on June 18 in Toledo and will reach its conclusion on Friday when, after making its way through parades, around landmarks, and even over a lake, the torch is triumphantly carried through Columbus in time for the opening ceremonies of the 2015 Special Olympics Ohio State Summer Games at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium.
The Ohio Law Enforcement Torch Run is the largest grassroots fund-raising program for the Ohio games, which has 2,700 participating athletes. The race itself boasted 2,000 officers this year and were divided up into five main legs that originated in Athens, Cleveland, Cincinnati, Marietta, and Toledo. From there, the officers either run or bike with the Flame of Hope for more than 1,000 miles and through more than 150 Ohio Communities.
Thursday’s leg, which started in Tiffin and would end in Marion, had scheduled to make a stop at Kroger in Bucyrus, but was canceled due to rain. But that didn’t stop the Kroger employees and race organizers from pausing to celebrate all that the runners, and the Special Olympics, means to Ohio.
Dan Vanvorhis of Toledo has been working with the event for multiple years
“The Law Enforcement Torch Run is a great opportunity for law enforcement in the community to work together to not only raise awareness for Special Olympics, but to raise funds,” Vanvorhis said. “Last year law enforcement, through the Torch Run, raised about $640,000 for Special Olympics here in Ohio.”
Vanvorhis says there is also a special benefit for the officers who participate in the Torch Run.
“There’s a great bond you always see between the law enforcement officers and the athletes,” Vanvorhis said. “You get to see a lot of compassion…it’s kind of a cool thing.”
When asked what makes the endeavor important to him, Vanvorhis said, “It’s the opportunity to work with the athletes…there are things that we take for granted that these athletes cherish. It makes it worthwhile for everybody involved.”