Standing amid more than 200 runners gathered for Sunday's Guardian Run at OPP Headquarters in Orillia, Derek Spence said the event is a game chanber.
“It’s an inclusion revolution,” said Spence, the Special Olympics liaison for the Law Enforcement Torch Run (LETR).
Raising over $35,000 and counting this year, the Ontario Law Enforcement Torch Run, over its lifetime, has raised more than $50 million for the Special Olympics. Since its inception 37 years ago, the LETR has contributed over one billion dollars to various causes.
Spence volunteered with the Torch Run for 30 of his 32 years as a police officer. Now retired, he loves his position helping with events like the Guardians Run in Orillia.
“They’re just incredible people ... you can’t get enough of these athletes,” he said, recalling the time he was introduced to some of the athletes in the early years of the Torch Run. That’s how he became more involved in local runs; he has not stopped since.
Spence noted the LETR involves police officers, corrections officers, Canada boarder service guards, probation and parole officers, university campus police and anyone that is law enforcement related.
He commented on the level of community support shown at the Orillia event Sunday.
“It’s not all law enforcement people that take part; it’s the running community," Spence explained. "There’s a lot of community members that come out every year and it becomes a family thing, there’s generations of people running in this..it’s great to see."
Many people present on Sunday expressed the need to raise more awareness about the LETR Guardians Run. The funds go toward helping Special Olympic athletes with the costs of equipment, travel, training, meals and more.
“It (Guardians Run) raises awareness because people from the Special Olympics participate and a lot of people in Orillia show up for the event,” said Sarah Caven noting the importance of community involvement.
“We’re a law enforcement family,” said Caven, explaining what brought her team out to run. This is her third year participating.
Jessi Miller has been a developmental service worker with Empower Simcoe for 15 years. She runs to support the people she has met over the years. She often brings friends to participate as well, though in her sixth year running the 5km, took part on a solo run.
“It’s symbolic in a way because it takes place at the old HRC building,” said Miller, speaking to how the Huronia Regional Centre supported those within the community with special needs.
“It raises awareness that the special needs community are getting out in the world doing big things ... and this event raises awareness of how the community needs to be involved to help them get there,” she continued.
For Special Olympians like Orillia's Stephen Graham, who has been involved in Special Olympics for 27 years, he says “this run gives all athletes opportunity to do sports every day and enjoy life.”
When asked who inspires him, there is not just one person. “Everybody,” he said with a smile. He speaks with gratitude of the LETR, expressing that without it, so many athletes wouldn’t have the means to do what they love.
Spence noted the importance of events like this helping connect mind and body. He said the provincial Special Olympics movement not only supports athletes in physical activities, but through programs such as "Healthy Athletes."
“It helps athletes with things like diet and personal hygiene, which are all very important to being a complete, healthy person. So they have the benefits of sporting events and beyond,” he said.
Participants agreed.
“When you become a runner it helps the mental aspect of your life,” said Domenic Fileccia, who ran with his wife Cathy; they participate in about a dozen runs each year.
They try to do extra fundraising for two to three of them, but generally participate in runs such as the Guardians Run for the cause. Today, despite a recent loss in their family, the duo felt the need to be involved and do what they do.
“You become a community,” said Cathy, referring to seeing many of the same runners year after year.
OPP Commissioner Thomas Carrique spoke to the sense of community and friendships built through the event.
“Special Olympic athletes teach us about courage, they teach us about perseverance, about resilience, about maintaining a positive attitude in adversity, and about always doing our best,” he said.
Although Graham stressed the LETR and Special Olympics changed his life, Carrique said Graham and other Special Olympians “have changed our lives for the better.”
