INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — For the fourth year in a row, dozens of members of Indian River County’s multiple law enforcement agencies gathered for the annual Law Enforcement Torch Run in support of the Special Olympics.
The event began with a ceremony including the singing of the national anthem by Special Olympics athlete Patricia Moody, and the lighting of the torch by Publix Store Manager Randy Strouse.
Vero Beach Police Chief David Currey lead the way from the starting line, holding the lit torch out in front of the group of dedicated runners as they jogged east on County Road 512.
Representatives from the Indian River County Sheriff’s Office, Sebastian Police Department, Vero Beach Police Department, and Fellsmere Police Department all showed up in support of the cause. The officers who were in uniform aided in directing traffic around the runners in route. But the officers not in uniform had their running shoes on.
“It’s great to come out here and show the public how supportive we are of this cause,” said Crime Scene Investigator Benjamin Allison of the Sebastian Police Department. Wednesday marked the third Law Enforcement Torch Run Allison has participated in sense joining the department.
Officer Ashley Penn of the Sebastian Police Department ran in the event for the first time on Wednesday. As a school resource officer, Penn said she knew students who participated as athletes in the Special Olympics.
“Gabby was one of my first D.A.R.E. Students,” Penn said. She was speaking of 12-year-old Gabby Ioffredo, who was the youngest of the 10 athletes who participated in Wednesday’s run.
In addition to the many Law Enforcement officers participating in the torch run, several civilian supporters of the Special Olympics ran as well, many of them decked out in “Team Gabby” gear.
Gabby’s mother, Tinamarie Ioffredo said Gabby would love to run the length of the torch run if she could, but “she’s definitely here supporting with her spirit.” She added, it was “inspiring” to see people in the community show up in such numbers to support Special Olympics.
According to Jeff Hancock, director of Special Olympics for Indian River, St. Lucie, and Okeechobee Counties, events like the Law Enforcement Torch Run are all about how the community can join together to make a difference in the lives of Special Olympics athletes.
“To be able to make a difference for these individuals, to see the change from the first time their doing these events, the first time they win a gold medal, the first time they get on a surfboard, ride a horse, or whatever sport it is, that’s what it’s all about,” Hancock said.
Hancock said the three counties offer 14 different sports modified so that athletes with disabilities can participate, including two new sports, stand-up paddle boarding and surfing.
“What we’re able to offer these athletes is something they never thought they’d be able to do,” Hancock said. By participating in Special Olympics training, Hancock said he hopes the athletes feel just as normal and capable as all of their friends they see participating in sports.
Though some money was raised through t-shirts purchased by the participating runners, the most significant function of Wednesday’s event was to raise awareness and show support.
“We definitely do have the support of our law enforcement,” Hancock said. More Special Olympics fundraisers supported by the various law enforcement agencies are already in the works for the near future.
Wednesday’s run ended with several athletes joining the runners for the last leg of the race, finishing at the Boys and Girls Club for hot dogs and hamburgers provided by Publix.
For more information on Special Olympics and how to get involved, contact Jeff Hancock at (772)-475-3588, or at jeffhancock@specialolympicsstlucie.org.