SNOW HILL — The third annual N.C. Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics was held Friday from Goldsboro to Snow Hill. It was the first year Maury Correctional Institution’s Torch Run included Greene County Special Olympics.
“Maury Correctional collaborated with Greene County Special Olympics,” said Chariesse Boyd, event coordinator and a correctional behavioral specialist at Maury Correctional.
The 2013 N.C. Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics is a 2,000-mile, 14-day torch relay that involves more than 2,000 law enforcement officers. More than 200 law enforcement agencies are represented across the state.
The first leg of the relay started May 9 in Wilkesboro, and the 12 legs of the Torch Run will converge in Raleigh on May 30, with the final leg starting on May 31 at the City of Raleigh Municipal Office.
Officers will run the Flame of Hope from the Raleigh Police Department to the 2013 SONC Summer Games opening ceremonies for the lighting of the cauldron to officially open the Games.
About 40 people, including three Goldsboro Special Olympic athletes, law enforcement from Wayne and Greene counties, Jason Volunteer Fire Department and volunteers, participated in the fundraiser event.
“We raised over $900 from Special Olympics Torch Run T-shirt sales,” Boyd said.
The relay started at 8 a.m. at the Goldsboro Police Department and ended at the Greene County Courthouse at about noon.
The monies raised go to support training, travel and other costs for upcoming Special Olympic athletes, Boyd said.
“We do this once a year to help support awareness for Special Olympics,” she said. “… We get the privilege of sending an athlete (to the Games) every year.”
Alan Jenkins, Erica Walderman and Ryan Hood, all from Goldsboro, are Special Olympic athletes who participated in the Goldsboro to Snow Hill leg.
Jenkins said he enjoys a variety of sports, including bowling, basketball, golf, swimming and others.
“When they see law enforcement like these guys,” he said about Special Olympic athletes, “that big torch right there, the Flame of Hope, they bring smiles to us that these officers care about us. … Without them, well, I don’t know. There won’t be no Special Olympics.”
Jenkins said it isn’t just for law enforcement; it’s for the athletes.
“I just want people to know we’re not different,” he said. “We’re people just like you all, but with special needs. These officers make you feel safe and family. It’s just like family. When they run, we run.”
Walderman said the participants did a good job of running and she’s proud to be a part of it.
Janessa Harkley, 17, of the Revelation Peak Performance Track Club in Pitt County, was one of the volunteers.
“I thought it was a good opportunity to actually do something within the community,” she said, “and it’s with running and I love running, so I thought it would be a good thing to do.”
Her coach is Brad Fields, a case manager at Maury Correctional,
“It gives the community an awareness of Special Olympics,” he said, “and gets us out in the public and gives us a visible presence to actually see a torch run through the community. And it helps build the morale for those who are of special needs and participating in the Special Olympics, itself.”
The passing of the torch was held on the courtroom steps with few community observers.
Holly Aycock, the Special Olympics coordinator for Greene County, was a participant in the relay. She said next year, she plans to increase the community support.
“I hope next year we have more community come out,” she said. “I’m going to help do that.”
Margaret Fisher can be reached at 252-559-1082 or Margaret.Fisher@Kinston.com. Follow her on Twitter @MargaretFishr.