Carrying the torch

Runners, riders and bikers gathered for a common cause on Sunday as part of the Law Enforcement Torch Run to raise money for Special Olympics Montana.

Runners, riders and bikers gathered for a common cause on Sunday as part of the Law Enforcement Torch Run to raise money for Special Olympics Montana.

The torch run, which began from the Idaho border and went all the way to Plains, saw an abundance of runners who gathered sponsorships to raise money for the special olympics program.  The torch run has been in existence for over 30 years and this is the fourth year Deputy Dave Hedley and his wife Holly have organized the torch run in Sanders County.  The state-wide torch run involves over 500 law enforcement representatives and volunteers that organize different runs throughout the state.  The overall torch run began April 26.

Hundreds of people carry the Torch of Hope 2,500 miles to the state summer games opening ceremonies in Bozeman. The arrival and lighting of the cauldron will officially begin the Special Olympic games on May 12, 2010.

Money raised at the torch runs goes directly to Special Olympics Montana, which helps to offset the cost for families and Olympic competitors to travel and have accomadations at the various events throughout the year.

In addition to the torch run, Sanders County Sheriff Gene Arnold began the pony express three years ago to help raise additional funds for the cause.  Last year, the Pony Express raised around $1,000 and the events together raised around $4,000.  The riders started their journey at the Subway and rode all the way to Elmo on Highway 28.  There was also a bike ride from St. Regis to Plains on Sunday as part of the collaborative fundraising event.

Dave Hedley and his family moved to Sanders County five years ago and he began working part-time at the Sheriff’s Office.  At that time the Sheriff’s Office did not have the man power to host an event like the torch run, but Hedley recruited members from the community to volunteer their time, got the ball rolling and brought the torch run to Sanders County.

“When our kids were diagnosed (with autism) and we knew they could be in special Olympics, but they had to turn eight first, we thought we have to do this here, we just have to and the first year we did it they weren’t even in special Olympics yet, they were still too young,” said Holly Hedley. “It was awesome and it worked that very first year.”

 The Hedleys have two sons, Colton and Curt, who were diagnosed with autism and have since competed in the special Olympic games.  They have formed a four-person team in Sanders County called the Sanders County Super Hawks.  Colton and Curt competed in the regional games in Kalispell this past Friday in the 100-yard dash and the softball throw events.  Colton took first place in both events and his brother Curt took second.

It is fundraising events like the law enforcement torch run that helps fund trips through the Special Olympics Montana fund.

It was a busy weekend for the Hedleys, as Dave had to head back to the hospital Monday to receive another round of chemotherapy to fight his recently diagnosed leukemia.

Despite his struggle, Hedley mustered the energy and strength to attend both the regional special Olympic games as well as drive a car following the runners during the torch run, plus spent his time away from the hospital in the past few weeks to sell torch run t-shirts.

“The torch run is going well, we had a couple of plan B’s and C’s in the works. Our son Cody is 17 and a track runner is riding shot gun with Dave so there weren’t any issues at all and normally whenever there were holes to be filled, like someone isn’t at their mile marker, Dave would hop out and run, but that wasn’t going to happen this year, so Cody rode with Dave and my brother who consequently moved here, is riding with the EMT that’s in the front, so both of them are the alternate runners for when someone isn’t there,” said Holly.