An Garda Síochána and PSNI run all Ireland circuit for Special Olympics Ireland
Kicking off on September 7th 2020, members of An Garda Síochána and PSNI are set to run a combined all Ireland circuit of 2,800km in aid of Special Olympics Ireland as part of the "LETR Global Virtual Torch Run 2020”.
The Law Enforcement Torch Run (LETR) for Special Olympics is an organisation made up of law enforcement officers worldwide. It champions acceptance and inclusion for people with intellectual disabilities as well as holding fundraising events to raise much needed funds for Special Olympics.
This mammoth challenge will see members of the LETR community put on their running shoes for Special Olympic athletes and programmes across the globe. The LETR are looking for teams of 10 people or less from across Ireland within An Garda Síochána/PSNI to participate in this international event by running 280km each from the 7th to the 20th of September, a date which marks the LETRs "Global Virtual Torch Run 2020”.
Typically the Torch Run takes place at the Opening ceremony of local competitions, provincial, national, regional and World Games, but due to Covid 19 many Special Olympics events have been cancelled or postponed including the Ireland Winter Games and the Special Olympics Annual Collection Day which raises much needed funds to keep the programme up and running in Ireland.
Participants will work together to raise €1,000 per team in the hope of raising a grand total of €10,000 to support the work of Special Olympics Ireland. This €10,000 will help ensure that Special Olympics Ireland can continue to provide its life-changing services to people with an intellectual disability in local communities and help spread the word about inclusion, hope and determination and the wonderful friendship between An Garda Síochána/PSNI and Special Olympics Ireland.
The LETR is looking for more members of An Garda Síochána and PSNI to take part in the challenge and you can register your team by contacting Jennifer.Marshall@specialolympics.ie
Further information on this fundraising campaign can be found at www.justgiving.com/campaign/LETR
Special Olympics Ireland is a sports organisation for people with an intellectual disability. 7,895 athletes benefit from the sports training programmes and competitions provided by Special Olympics in a network of 294 clubs across the country.
Speaking of the fundraising challenge and the importance of supporting athletes during this challenging time, Karen Treacy, Special Olympics Ireland’s Fundraising Manager, said:
"The last number of months have proved exceptionally challenging for our athletes, many of whom require regular routine and structure in their daily lives. Part of that routine is attending their Special Olympics Club; training and engaging with their coaches and other club members. It’s not just a sports club for our athletes, it’s a community, so when we closed all clubs due to the ongoing pandemic, this impacted our members dramatically.
"Throughout lockdown, we worked hard to create relevant and engaging digital material that was published daily as part of our ‘Together at Home’ programme across both our website and social media channels. Each day, a content schedule was shared to give athletes something to check in on and look forward to. We worked with the various clubs across the province to host live workouts athletes could do at home, as a way of making them feel less isolated and still very much part of their community.
"The donations we receive through the ‘LETR Virtual Torch Run 2020’ will allow us to continue to offer this support system to athletes, until the time comes where all athletes can safely return to their clubs.”
For additional information on the "LETR Virtual Torch Run 2020” and the work of the LETR see www.letrrepublicofireland.org and the www.letr.org/GVTR
