- May 7, 2024
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Every year, Special Olympics Florida reports over 5,000 law enforcement officers from over 300 agencies carry the torch through 67 counties in the state.
At 8 a.m. on Saturday, May 4, the Ormond Beach Police Department will host the Volusia County torch run for the first time. The Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics Florida event will be a 1-mile fun run beginning and ending at City Hall.
It's an event the department has spent about two months planning, said Community Outreach Officer Danielle Henderson. Usually, agencies start preparing to host the torch runs in December. When OBPD learned no run was taking place in Volusia, Henderson said, the department jumped into action.
"Typically, for the torch run protocol, it's usually law enforcement officers within your county, so we reached out to every agency in Volusia County, including federal, " Henderson said. "... They're sending runners over to run with us and then the Special Olympics will also have Special Olympic runners with us."
OBPD is asking the community to run with them in the event, as proceeds benefit the Special Olympics. In addition to the run, there will also be vendors, food trucks, music by DJ Tremble and a Touch-a-Truck vehicle display.
The police department is also selling shirts and hats to raise money. Those who purchase a shirt are invited to wear it during the torch run.
Ormond Beach real estate agents Toni Wright and Michelle Ellis, both with Adams Cameron and Co. Realtors, have been helping OBPD fundraise for the event.
Wright and Ellis, who help OBPD with its annual National Night Out event, said Henderson reached out to them and asked if they would be willing to lend a hand for the torch run. They were excited to say yes, Wright said. The Adams Cameron Foundation will be donating $500.
"We love our guys in blue," Wright said. "My dad's a former police officer for New York City ... Without them, we have nothing. They don't get enough recognition."
Ellis also has a close tie to the Special Olympics. Her childhood friend Rob Powell, of Asheville, North Carolina, participates in the Special Olympics every year.
"My family has always taught me to start the charity at home and work your way out, and I love that 100% of the proceeds go to the Special Olympics, and stays here in the county," Ellis said. "I just really love that they do that. I love that I can be a part of that."
Wright and Ellis will be conducting a raffle for two $100 gift cards during the torch run to raise more funds.
Jeep Beach has also donated $1,000, Henderson said.
OBPD doesn't have a fundraising goal though.
"We've come over the goal that we thought, because we didn't know how, in the short period of time, what we could accomplish," Henderson said. "We're gearing it this year to see what we can do so that next year we have an accomplished goal."
Henderson said it's exciting to be able to host the torch run in Ormond Beach for the first time.
"I think that it is going to be welcomed by our community and that we feel that this is something that the community should see that we are supporting," Henderson said.
