Torch Run celebrates athletes

Thursday, June 29, 2006

Adam Hays was exhausted when he finished his six-mile run to the Frederick County Courthouse. Fueled by the excitement of curious spectators and a police motorcade, Hays pressed on with his final destination in sight.

Hays’ completion of the 20th Annual Law Enforcement Torch Run for the Maryland Special Olympics on June 16 was a satisfying moment.

‘‘I had a lot of fun,” Hays said, admitting that it was a run longer than he is used to. ‘‘I had to take breaks in between. I’m a sprinter, not a long-distance runner.”

Escorted by flashing police cars and motorcycles, runners like Hays followed by a few dozen officers through downtown Frederick on Friday slowing traffic and passers-by who stopped to watch. The groups participated in the special tradition for the games that began June 10 at Towson University.

The Law Enforcement Torch Run is a fundraising event that many police departments around the world participate in to help raise money and awareness for the Special Olympics.

The lighting of the cauldron after the torch run begins the 2006 Maryland Special Olympics Summer Games.

More than 200 athletes from Frederick competed in the Special Olympics this year at Towson University, and more than 9,000 from across the state.

Kelly Russel, a retired lieutenant with the Frederick Police Department and former organizer of the Torch Run, sees the event as a great partnership between law enforcement and the community.

‘‘It is the single most effective fund for the Special Olympics,” Russel said. ‘‘Law Enforcement does it to do something nice for the community, and to help the athletes.”

The Torch Run has been a tradition for nearly three decades. According to Russel, the Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics began in 1981 when Wichita, Kan., Police Chief Richard LaMunyon saw an urgent need to raise money and awareness for the Special Olympics.

What began as an idea in a Midwest town has sprawled into a tradition for cities from coast to coast.

‘‘Today, all 50 states and over 40 countries have their own versions of the Torch Run,” Kelly said.

Maryland police departments have raised more money each year, according to the Special Olympics Maryland Web site. Law enforcement raised more than $5,000 in 1986 when Maryland’s Torch Run began, and more than $1 million in 2005.

Last week, a large crowd assembled on the courtyard of the Frederick County Courthouse to watch Hays and Carol DeBow, a Special Olympics assistant coach for track and field, hold the torch as it was lit, bringing a proud end to this year’s run.

The effort is something that makes both athletes and their families feel special.

‘‘It makes me absolutely thrilled that the police spend their time to help raise tens of thousands of dollars for the Special Olympics,” said Marianne Hays, mother of Adam Hays. ‘‘It would not be what it is today without their national support.”

Adam Hays has participated in the Torch Run for two years now.

‘‘It was a lot of fun,” he said, explaining that he is participating in track and field events in the Special Olympics. ‘‘This run was a little bit of a warm up for me.”

After the Torch Run, many of the participants went to a cookout at the Law Enforcement Center to celebrate their successful run.

‘‘This was the first year we ever held a cookout,” said Frederick County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Gary Dembo. ‘‘We wanted to give something back to the participators for their efforts.”

Many of the runners relaxed and talked about how much they enjoyed the event.

‘‘It’s fun to come to work and run,” said Nathan Michael, a crime analyst for the Frederick County Sheriff’s Office.

For Adam Hays and his mother, the Torch Run culminates hours of training for the Special Olympics.

‘‘I’m so excited for Adam to participate,” Marianne Hays said. ‘‘It gives him a chance to grow and mature.”