The Law Enforcement Torch Run began in 1981 in Wichita, Kansas when Police Chief Richard LaMunyon conceived the Torch Run as a way to involve local law enforcement personnel in the community and to support Special Olympics Kansas. Three successful years of Torch Runs in Kansas lead LaMunyon to present the program to the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP). The IACP bought into the program and showed enthusiastic support and leadership in its growth. With the involvement of all facets of the law enforcement community, including sheriff’s associations, police unions, state, county, municipal, military and federal law enforcement and correctional officers, the Torch Run is now active in every state in the United States along with 36 countries around the world.
The Torch Run is now the largest grassroots fund-raising
program benefiting Special Olympics. It generates over $15
million annually for Special Olympics and reaches populations
in over 35,000 communities through media coverage in the
United States alone.
In Nebraska....
The Torch Run began in 1985 with a small group of officers
carrying a Special Olympics torch over 700 miles across Nebraska,
from Kimball to Omaha, to open the Summer Games. Since then,
over $2.3 million dollars has been raised for Special Olympics
Nebraska athletes alone. While the Torch Run itself is a five
day event, the program is a large collection of fundraising
and public awareness activities conducted throughout the year.
Currently, over 450 officers are involved in Special Olympics
Nebraska Torch Run.
Torch Run Events
2008 Lincoln Polar Plunge
The Lincoln Polar Bear Plunge is scheduled for Saturday, February 23, at Holmes Lake in Lincoln. Registration is from 9 to 10 a.m. The plunge starts at 10:45 a.m. Post-plunge festivities will be held at Dino's Eastside Grille at 2901 S. 84th Street, where plungers can eat for free! To get started, click on the link below called Lincoln Polar Plunge 08.
Also, new this year to the plunge, you can not only raise pledges by using the registration form but now are able to raise pledges online. It’s an easy and creative way to reach friends and family no matter where they live. You can create your own giving page by going to http://www.firstgiving.com/sone and following the few easy steps to create your page. You then simply send your page out to those you wish to have pledge you. By using the giving page you may be able to reach more people, reach them quicker and easier and you won’t have to worry about bringing the pledges to the plunge because the donations come directly to Special Olympics Nebraska and will be credited as your pledges. Our hope is that this online giving page will make soliciting pledges much easier for the plungers and the giving will be easier for the donors.
Lincoln Polar Plunge 08
2008 Kearney Polar Bear Plunge
The Kearney Polar Bear Plunge is scheduled for Saturday, March 8, at Fort Kearny in Kearney. Registration begins at 1 p.m. Team and individual plunge starts at 3 p.m. Post-plunge festivities will be held at FirsTier Event Center, near the Kearney I-80 Interchange. All plungers are encourgaed to attend the Tri-City Storm Hockey Game after the post-plunge party.
To get started, click on the link below.
Kearney Plunge 08 Reg form
2007 Omaha Polar Plunge
Thank you to all who plunged in Omaha Dec. 8 at Lake Zorinsky. More than 200 plungers braved the cold and raised more than $52,000!
SARPY COUNTY COP ON TOP
Two deputies from the Sarpy County Sheriff’s Office will spend the weekend following Thanksgiving living on top of the Hy-Vee located at 72nd and Highway 370 in the Shadow Lake Towne Center as part of the Law Enforcement Torch Run to raise money and awareness for Special Olympics Nebraska.
Deputy Rick Wheeler and Deputy Lance Schickert will go up on the roof at 8am on Friday, November 23rd and won’t come down until 5pm on Sunday November 25th as part of the Sarpy County FOP Lodge 3 Cop-on-Top promotion. The deputies will live, eat and sleep on the Hy-Vee roof during the entire three-day fundraising effort regardless of the unpredictable November weather.
During their time on the roof, Deputy Wheeler and Deputy Schickert will interact with Hy-Vee customers, while other law enforcement officials, volunteers and Special Olympics Nebraska athletes collect donations. For those unable to make it out to Hy-Vee for the event, donations are being accepted online at http://www.firstgiving.com/scso. All proceeds raised with go to Special Olympics Nebraska.
WORLD'S LARGEST TRUCK CONVOY
The 4th annual World’s Largest Truck Convoy to benefit Special Olympics Nebraska will be held September 14-15, 2007 in Hastings and Grand Island. The Convoy will kick-off on the 14th at Smith Softball Complex in Hastings, with a raffle, cook-out and softball and kickball games for the truckers, officers and Special Olympics athletes. The Convoy will depart from Smith Softball Complex on the 15th and head down HWY 281 to Bossleman’s Travel Center in Grand Island where lunch will be served for the participants, along with an auction and awards ceremony. For more information on the Convoy in Nebraska and for registration information please see the links below.
2007 Convoy Registration Form
2007 Convoy Schedule
2007 Convoy Incentive Prizes
Lead Truck Bid: $800.00 - as of July 23, 2007.
(See Convoy Registration Form above for more information on Lead Truck Bid Information).
BLUE RIBBON POKER RUN
The 2nd Annual Blue Ribbon Poker run sponsored by the Omaha Police Union was held July 14th in the Omaha area and was organized by OPD Sgt. Steve Fornoff. The ride included stops at the American Legion (Fort Calhoun), Papa Joe’s Tavern (Missouri Valley), Hog Heaven (Crescent) and the Omaha Police Union Hall. Riders were greeted at each stop by Special Olympics athletes, coaches and family members and enjoyed lunch and a dinner after the event with the athletes. The event brought out about 75 motorcycles and raised over $1,800 for the Law Enforcement Torch Run and Special Olympics Nebraska. Dates and a route for the 2008 Blue Ribbon Poker Run will be posted on this site next Spring.
OGALLALA POKER RUN
The Shield Ride to benefit Special Olympics Nebraska was held in Ogallala on July 7th. The ride was organized by Inv. Redinger of the Nebraska State Patrol and was a 90 mile ride around Lake McConaughy. The event consisted of about 15 motorcycles and raised over $2,100. Despite the 100 degree Summer temperatures, the riders and Special Olympics athletes had a great time at the event. Prizes were awarded for "High Poker Hand" and for the rider who has traveled the furthest. Following the event the riders were treated to a wonderful dinner prepared by the parents of the Tri-County athletes. Information for the 2008 Shield Ride will be posted next Spring.
ANNUAL TORCH RUN ACROSS THE STATE
The Law Enforcement Torch Run will make its annual run across Nebraska May 11th-15th to carry the Special Olympics Nebraska Flame of Hope from Scottsbluff to Omaha for the Opening Ceremonies of the Special Olympics’ annual Summer Games. Over 200 law enforcement officers from communities all across Nebraska will come out to take part in the 5-day run. Officers run with the torch, ride bikes and escort the run nearly 400 miles into Creighton University to light the Summer Games cauldron to kick off Summer Games and present their annual donation to Special Olympics Nebraska. The money is raised through a variety of fundraising efforts organized by officers. These events include, but are not limited to: Polar Bear Plunges, Cop-On-Top events, Cops and Lobsters, Motorcycle Poker Runs, Basketball and Bowling tournaments and the World’s Largest Truck Convoy. The Law Enforcement Torch Run is also supported through sponsorships from organizations and companies. The 2008 Torch Run sponsors include: AMVETS, CARQUEST, Good Sam Club of Nebraska, Fraternal Order of Police, KOLN/KGIN, Lincoln Police Union, Nebraska Sheriff’s Association, Police Officers Association, State Troopers Association, Updowntowners, US Bank, Veterans of Foreign Wars and Wells Fargo. Thank you to all the supporters of the Torch Run and to all the Nebraska officers who dedicate their time and energy to the cause!
Click on the following links to see the schedule for the 2008 Law Enforcement Torch Run:
Day 1 Scottbluff to Ogallala - UPDATED
Day 2 North Platte to Lexington
Day 3 Holdrege to Elm Creek
Day 3 Lexington to Grand Island
Day 3 St. Paul to Grand Island
Day 4 Grand Island to Lincoln
Day 4 Beatrice to Lincoln
Day 4 Columbus to Fremont
Day 5 Fremont to Gretna
Day 5 Lincoln to Omaha
Click on the following link to see the schedule of Torch Run ceremonies that will be taking place in several communities between May 11th and May 15th:
2008 Torch Run Ceremony Schedule
Anyone interested in taking part in the run can access the runner registration form below:
2008 Runner Registration Form
