Special Olympics torch run to light up Paeroa

Police and Special Olympics athletes from the Thames Valley club are poised for a walk which starts at the Information Hub, 101 Normandy Road on Wednesday 19 October at 11am to support the nationwide Law Enforcement Torch Run (LETR). 
 
The Freemasons New Zealand Special Olympics National Summer Games are being held from 8 to 12 December in Hamilton. A contingent of New Zealand Police will walk alongside Special Olympics local athletes and carry the ‘Flame of Hope’ this Wednesday.
 
The flame symbolises courage, celebrates diversity, and unites communities around the globe with over 97,000 law enforcement members carrying the ‘Flame of Hope’ at events annually. 
 
Inspector Mark Harrison, chair of the LETR New Zealand Charitable Trust and New Zealand LETR director, says “The ‘Flame of Hope’ represents courage, opportunity and equality and represents LETRs mission of engaging law enforcement worldwide to be champions for acceptance and inclusion for people with intellectual disabilities.”
 
Constable Paige Keith of Waikato Police is proud to be involved in this leg of the torch journey and says, “We are proud to be supporting an awesome event like this and we’re wishing all our amazing athletes the best and hope they enjoy the games.”
 
Special Olympics chief executive Carolyn Young is excited to see the nationwide Law Enforcement Torch Run weaving its way around the country and reaching Thames Valley this week to mark the final countdown to the National Summer Games.
 
“Our clubs have been building up to our pinnacle event for five years, and the LETR is a wonderful way to raise awareness around the country and to get everyone excited about the National Summer Games,” says Young.
 
“We are very grateful to the New Zealand Police for being such a fantastic partner in this event for so many years and we hope the people of Thames Valley and the rest of the country will come out in numbers to show their support for our athletes.”
 
The torch will be travelling through most major centres in New Zealand in the next two months.
 
Media are invited to attend the Law Enforcement Torch Run and photographers are welcome. Special Olympics New Zealand will also be photographing the event and is happy to supply images to media as requested.  
 
For more information about the Thames Valley run contact:   
 
Constable Paige Keith New Zealand Police  021 191 0692
 
For general information about the Torch Run contact:
 
Inspector Mark Harrison New Zealand Police  021 190 7805
 
Coen Lammers Media Manager Special Olympics New Zealand  021 730 239
 
To find out more about the Special Olympics National Summer Games visit  www.SpecialOlympics.org.nz  
 
ENDS