Upwards of a hundred Prince George RCMP, Sheriff’s Service, and local athletes ran a 3.5-kilometre lap around downtown this afternoon to raise money and awareness for Special Olympics.
RCMP Superintendent Warren Brown swapped his red serge for gym shorts to participate in the third annual event.
“We do it so athletes who don’t enjoy the same privileges that we do each and every day have the opportunity to compete at a level that is appropriate throughout the province and internationally.”
Wilma Van Hage coaches seven sports and says events like this means athletes can just focus on performing and having fun.
“There’s no worries about the money behind it, and it also helps us out with our traveling. Being in Prince George and the North, most of the competitions tend to be south so we do a lot of traveling to Vancouver, Kelowna, that sort of thing.”
The money will also subsidize equipment use, uniforms, and facilities.
The Prince George community is just is just one of many around the world participating in this event. In BC, the Law Enforcement Torch Run has raised over $3 million since 1990 and helped increase the athlete base to more than 4,600 registered athletes in 57 communities. Globally, the event has raised over $600 million for Special Olympics.
The detachment was hoping to raise $6,000 through the event. At the start of the race, the RCMP had raised about $1,800 through the 50/50 alone.
#cityofpg Law Enforcement Torch Run to support @SpecialOlympics now underway @PG_RCMP #SpecialOlympics pic.twitter.com/zZ6eg165wh
— My Prince George Now (@mypgnow) June 6, 2017
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