By Amy Batista, Special Writer
Local police officers put on their running shoes and took to the streets to carry the “Flame of Hope” in the 32nd annual Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics New Jersey last Friday.
The flame traveled on 25 different routes throughout the state before it lit the cauldron at the College of New Jersey (TCNJ) to signal the start of the 2015 Special Olympics New Jersey (SONJ) Summer Games on June 12.
Three East Windsor officers participated in the torch run this year — Patrol Officer Paul Wille, Patrol Officer Robert Davison, and East Windsor Township Police Department Police Benevolent Association Local 191 President Wayne Hummel.
“We participate in the Law Enforcement Torch Run annually,” President Hummel said. “We have been participants in the torch run since before I was hired as an officer in East Windsor in 1998.”
Different officers generally participate from year to year, depending on schedule and availability, he said.
“This is the third time I have participated in the torch run,” President Hummel said. “Paul Wille has participated eight times and organizes our participation. Robert Davison has participated three times.”
The torch run signals the start of the Special Olympics games, which are organized by SONJ, a statewide, sports training and athletic competition program that provides year-round opportunities to children and adults with intellectual disabilities to participate in sports.
The Cranbury leg of the run this year took about an hour and measured approximately six miles starting at Melrich Road and then traveling through downtown Cranbury before turning down Half Acre Road into Monroe. Cranbury FOP Lodge 68 members Lt. Mike Owens, Sgt. Ryan Dworzanski, Officer Jeff Rapach, and Plainsboro Police Officer and Cranbury resident Kevin Lowery ran the fifteenth leg of the run.
“I am always glad and available to help out any individuals in advancing the awareness for the Special Olympics New Jersey,” Cranbury Police Officer Matthew Schneider said. “The Law Enforcement Torch Run is a major component of the SONJ program in fundraising and promoting awareness. Unfortunately there are many within New Jersey that are still unaware of this great program and all its accomplishments. This is why I continue to assist in fundraising and promoting awareness for this cause.”
Around 3,000 runners were expected to participate in the torch run, traveling through more than 300 towns and covering 750 miles. Some legs were expected to start as early as 4:45 a.m.
The East Windsor police ran part of the twelfth leg of the torch run, which started in Kingston at the border with Princeton and ended at the Princeton Battle Monument.
“Our portion of the run is 3.25 miles over about 35 minutes,” President Hummel said. “At the monument, we hand off to West Windsor for another leg. They then ran off to Hopewell and Ewing for the final leg into the stadium.”
Spectators lined the roads and cheered on the local law enforcement officers.
“We all agree that the best part of the run is the positive response we get from vehicles driving by us on the roadway and especially the cheering from the public as we run through downtown Princeton,” President Hummel said.
The first New Jersey torch run took place in 1984 and went from Liberty State Park in Jersey City to Rutgers Stadium in New Brunswick through eight towns covering 43 miles and raising $7,000. In each succeeding year, the dollar amount became greater and the number of volunteers increased substantially. Today over $2 million is raised annually by more than 3,000 officers through local and statewide events including the Law Enforcement Torch Run as part of the annual summer games in June, according to the Special Olympics New Jersey website.
“Law enforcement and Special Olympics have been great friends for more than 30 years,” Chief Robert Belfiore, retired deputy chief of the Port Authority of New York/New Jersey and director of the New Jersey Torch Run, said in a news release. “It is our duty to support these athletes through our fundraising, but on a more personal note, it is our privilege to carry this torch as a symbol of our bond, and to encourage everyone to see just how much our local Special Olympics athletes can do.”
Officer Schneider said, “Along with thousands of other volunteers, I will continue to assist the New Jersey Law Enforcement Torch Run and the SONJ because of the genuine Jersey pride it repeatedly creates annually. Many assist in this mission — volunteers of all ages, media, businesses, private individuals, large corporations, and law enforcement. All of these groups do so for the great athletes associated with the SONJ. These athletes inspire us all to go farther or do better, as they themselves accomplish so much every day of every year throughout their lives. The SONJ and the New Jersey Law Enforcement Torch Run show great credit upon all its volunteers/contributors involved, this great state of New Jersey, and most importantly its athletes.”
In addition to the run, New Jersey law enforcement officers also spend months raising funds and awareness for Special Olympics New Jersey at events such as the polar bear plunges, the Lincoln Tunnel Challenge 5K, the Statue of Liberty 5K, the United Airlines Plane Pull, the Battle the Beach 5K, Dodgetoberfest, multiple golf outings and many smaller local events, according to a press release.
“Special Olympics New Jersey athletes are fortunate to train, compete, and have access to many health and empowerment programs completely free of charge,” Jason Schubert, senior director of law enforcement sponsorship for Special Olympics New Jersey, said. “None of it would be possible without the dedication of our law enforcement officers. They truly are champions for our athletes.”
Officer Schneider recited the Special Olympics oath and said, “Let me win. But if I can not win, let me be brave in the attempt.”
