Torch Run returns
Grand Canyon Chamber promotes awareness with mixer and fundraisers for event that benefits Special Olympics
GRAND CANYON, Ariz - This April, the Grand Canyon will once again host one of its most treasured events, the Law Enforcement Torch Run (LETR). The run will start at Mather Point and eventually finish in the town of Tusayan.
The mission of the Torch Run is to raise funds and increase awareness for the Special Olympics, resulting in law enforcement being the single largest donor to the Special Olympics statewide.
The Grand Canyon Chamber of Commerce hosted a mixer dedicated to the Torch Run and the Special Olympics to significant turnout Feb. 11. It is the chamber's first year being involved with LETR.
In attendance at the mixer was Tim Martin, CEO of Special Olympics Arizona. Martin emphasized to attendees how important LETR is for the Special Olympics, as well as the Grand Canyon area.
"Law enforcement fundraisers are approaching 50 million dollars on a world-wide basis. In Arizona it's a half a million a year that law enforcement contributes to Special Olympics," Martin said. "Law enforcement steps up in so many different ways, volunteering, coaches for the athletes, providing security, being resources to the families, really being the basis to our relationship."
Martin went on to say the Torch Run touches every corner of the state, mirroring the style of the torch run celebrating the commencement of the Olympic Games.
"We have seven torches that run all around the state," Martin said. "Some will start in the south east portion of the state, some will start in the Navajo Nation, some will start in the west, and they all come together at the end to celebrate the start of the summer games," he said, adding that officers from around Arizona choose a segment to run and sponsor.
The Special Olympics is the only sanctioned body outside the Olympics able to use the word 'Olympics,' which means they must follow much of their official protocol, creating a unique symbolism for the many communities through which the torch travels.
In Arizona, 80 percent of the population lives in densely populated areas and 50 percent of the Special Olympic athletes come from rural areas. According to Martin, it is amazing how the smaller communities and the law enforcement pull together, and in most cases, they are the only reason the Special Olympics is able to continue.
Martin added the most important part of the event is the athletes, and the powerful stories they bring. The messages they impart to the world encompass what the Special Olympics are all about.
For Special Olympic athlete and representative Bill Barber, LETR signifies everything the Games strive to achieve: awareness and equality for all people, regardless of disability, and last Friday's mixer was an example of that.
"I just hope people can see what we are doing here and become more accepting," Barber said. "My goal is to make sure that this will continue. Tonight is a stepping-stone to bigger and better things. And I came to see how significant this is to the community."
Chamber office manager Josie Bustillos was delighted with the success of the mixer, which made almost $800 in just two hours.
"As far as the evening went, I'm thrilled," she said. "My understanding is that last year, the entire torch run raised $1,200 and so we have gotten pretty close and they haven't even gotten all of their donations yet from the Rec Center and stuff like that. So I think they could possibly have a larger fundraiser by the time we are done."
Bustillos added that the Grand Canyon Chamber hopes to help promote the Torch Run further.
"We hope to have one more fundraiser for them in March," she said,
The chamber wishes to extend appreciation to the Grand Canyon Squire Inn for providing a mixer venue and Grand Canyon Brewery for supplying beverages.
Martin said Barber is instrumental in the success of the Torch Run at Grand Canyon.
"Bill has put this together," he said. "Bill is who made sure the community got back on board as far as the Special Olympics, and Bill has done it because he wants the program to grow and he wants to be able to participate in the Special Olympics, and the most important thing to him is that it goes on forever and how to get it engrained in the community."
For more information on the LETR visit www.arizonatorchrun.com
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