Lake County celebrates Special Olympians during annual Torch Run
Rob Zolman
Students and staff from Cherry Valley Elementary cheer open Special Olympians as they pass by.
Rob Zolman
Holding the Flame of Hope up as high as she can, Special Olympian Rose Edge makes her way down Main Street during the Law Enforcement Torch Run on Thursday in Polson.
Rob Zolman
Athlete Kyler Gage leads the Polson Pirate Special Olympics team down Main Street.
Rob Zolman
Rob Zolman
Rob Zolman
Rob Zolman
Hey savvy news reader! Thanks for choosing local.
You are now reading
1 of 3 free articles.
LAKE COUNTY — The Flame of Hope passed through the Mission Valley during a two-day celebration of the annual Special Olympics of Montana Law Enforcement Torch Run on May 5-6.
“It’s a really good feeling to give back to these athletes,” said Polson Police Officer Kyle Cooper, who organized this year’s countywide event.
The Special Olympics torch run is a statewide event that was celebrated in Lake County. The first leg of the Lake County portion of the torch run started in Rollins on Wednesday morning. Local law enforcement officials and first responders carried the torch along U.S. Highway 93 through the communities of Dayton, Elmo and Big Arm before ending at Polson’s Riverside Park.
On Thursday morning, the second leg of the run began at the Polson High School parking lot with Cooper escorting the Polson Pirate Special Olympics team through the residential streets of Polson. The team went down Main Street where business owners, community members and fellow students came to show their support and cheer on the athletes.
The Pirate procession concluded at the First Interstate Bank where the team handed off the torch to volunteer runners who went on to finish the almost 50-mile final leg of the run along U.S. Highway 93 ending in Arlee.
“It seems like a little thing,” said Cooper of the parade. “But it’s amazing seeing how much the athletes enjoy it.”
Every year thousands of law enforcement officers and first responders cover more than 2,000 miles of Big Sky Country roadways carrying the Flame of Hope in an effort to raise funds and public awareness for the Special Olympics of Montana program.
According to the Special Olympics of Montana website, the Special Olympics is a program that reaffirms law enforcement officers’ beliefs that with hope, love and dedication achievement and self-worth can be realized by any individual. It is their belief that people with intellectual disabilities, by their involvement in Special Olympics, can show the community the true meaning of sports and a pure joy towards life.
The Flame of Hope will be used to light the Olympic cauldron, which officially begins the Montana State Special Olympics Summer Games in Bozeman on May 12.
Even though the Summer Games are virtual again this year, event organizers have said that they have exciting things planned and encourage everyone to check out their webpage for the links.
For the Mission Valley area athletes, the Olympic competition has concluded with the results being logged in with state officials. A late May local awards ceremony is in the works. need of help in a most tragic time.
Bidding is now available and closes on Monday, May 17, at 8 a.m. Thank you, in advance for your kindness. You can view the silent auction at the following link at www.accelevents.com/e/MMIPAuction.
The items available on the bidding website include several works of art, gift baskets, music, blankets and jewelery. To bid, click on the item and sign in.
