Special Olympics torch run comes through White County

Sparta Police Department participates in event

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The Special Olympics torch was passed from runner to runner as it made its way through Putnam and White counties, on April 24, and, despite the wind and rain, over 40 runners between the ages of 15 and 60 helped carry the torch and raise awareness for Special Olympics athletes statewide.

“This is a portion of our statewide Law Enforcement Torch Run, the largest grassroots funding and awareness for Special Olympics,” Amy Parker, the vice president of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion for Special Olympics Tennessee, said.

Parker said the initiative to have a statewide torch run in support of the athletes is just a small part of a worldwide movement.

“We are carrying the torch across the state, led by the chief of Manchester Police, Chief Mark Yother, [who] has taken it upon himself to help escort the torch across the state,” Parker said.

The Law Enforcement Torch Run states the mission of the program is to raise awareness and funds for the Special Olympics movement. Known as “Guardians of the Flame,” law enforcement members and Special Olympics athletes often have the opportunity to carry the “Flame of Hope” into opening ceremonies of local competitions. With most competitions having been put on hold or cancelled completely for the past year because of the risks that COVID-19 poses to the athletes and their families, carrying the torch across the state presented a great way to keep the movement alive and continue to bring awareness to the Special Olympics games and athletes.

“We appreciate all of the support from the local law enforcement agencies and our community,” Nancy Benningfield, the Upper Cumberland Area – Region 9 director and teacher and coach for White County High School, said. “Our athletes are eager to get back to playing. They need the support and interaction that they receive from Special Olympics games around the region, state, and even the world. We can’t do all of that without the support of so many. This Torch Run is just one of the many ways we have felt the support of the great communities we live and work in.”

The Upper Cumberland Region – Area 9, portion of Law Enforcement Torch Run started at the Cookeville Police Department and made its way south, on Highway 111, with runners passing the torch from one to another as a relay route that covered 15.7 miles was completed.

“This morning’s [April 24] event contained Cookeville Police Department, Algood Police Department, Livingston Police Department, Sparta Police Department, and the Putnam County Sheriff’s Department,” Parker said. “We also had some incredible support from the athletic department of Tennessee Tech and CrossFit Mayhem.”

To learn more about Special Olympics or the Law Enforcement Torch Run or to donate, go to SpecialOlympicsTN.org   

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