Special Olympics Ontario 2023 Law Enforcement Torch Run — June 29 — Port Hope & Cobourg
Image:(L-R): Event organizers Constable Josalyn Hilts (CPS) and Constable Tammie Staples (PHPS)
On Thursday, June 29th, 2023, Cobourg Police Service (CPS) and Port Hope Police Service (PHPS) will join Community Living Respite Care Northumberland (Community Living) to run, walk, and bike in support of Special Olympics Ontario in the 2023 Law Enforcement Torch Run.
Starting at the Port Hope Police Service, escorted by police cruisers, the torch run team, made up of CPS and PHPS members, will run, walk, or bike a route through Port Hope, raising awareness and funds for Special Olympics Ontario.
The second leg of the Torch Run will continue in Cobourg, where the participants will be joined by Community Living participants to finish off the run.
Special Olympics Ontario is a program dedicated to helping local athletes with intellectual disabilities find inclusion, acceptance, and empowerment through sports. The organization uses various fundraisers, such as Torch Run Ontario, to support over 26,000 athletes living with disabilities in our province.
The Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police (OACP) first showed their support for Special Olympics Ontario nearly fifteen years ago with their Law Enforcement Torch Run (LETR). Since then, OACP considers this their “charity of choice” and over 97,000 Law Enforcement members participate in the fundraiser worldwide. Those officers who carry the Flame of Hope during the run are called Guardians of the Flame.
Torch Runs will be taking place across the province all month long.
The CPS/PHPS team will collect donations online throughout the month. You can donate to support Special Olympics by visiting the CPS/PHPS Torch Run page.
Cobourg Fire and Northumberland Paramedics have been invited to participate in the run.
Torch Run Event and Route Details:
Port Hope
• 10:30 a.m. START: Port Hope Police Service (55 Fox Road, Port Hope)
• Route through town ending at Giant Tiger in Port Hope (145 Peter Street)
Cobourg
• 11:45 a.m. START: Giant Tiger in Cobourg (1111 Elgin Street, Cobourg)
• Route south past Cobourg Police Service
• Pick up Community Living participants en route
• Ends at Community Living (275 Cottesmore Avenue)
Other ways to support Special Olympics Ontario – 2023 Special Olympics Torch Run Coin
CPS and PHPS have created the 2023 Special Olympics Torch Run coin. The coins are available for purchase at the Cobourg Police Service (107 King Street East, Cobourg) and the Port Hope Police Service (55 Fox Road, Port Hope) for $20 each. All proceeds from the coins will go to support Special Olympics Ontario.
Local athletes Phillip Mitchell and Braden Graham were presented with a 2023 Special Olympics Torch Run coin at the 2023 Cobourg / Port Hope Polar Plunge in March to kick off the coin fundraising campaign. These coins are a limited edition and will be sold on a first come, first served basis while supply lasts.
