Special Olympics Torch Run to take place Saturday
<p>Participants in last year's Special Olympics Law Enforcement Torch Run pass off the torch as they make the journey across the county.</p>
SANDERS COUNTY – The Special Olympics Law Enforcement Torch Run will be held on Saturday, showing support for the Special Olympics and raising money for the cause.
Torch Run Leg Leader, April Phillips, is spearheading this year’s run after the death of David Hedley.
Hedley had been in charge of the run since it was started in Sanders County some years ago and asked Phillips to head the run after he was gone.
“Before his passing, (Dave) basically handed the torch to me asking me to take it on,” said Phillips.
The torch run consists of a 77-mile trip, from the Idaho state border to mile marker 77 in Plains and consists of bicyclists, runners and horseback riders.
Starting bright and early at 7 a.m. the volunteers who carry the flame torch through the towns of Sanders County make their way down Highway 200.
Phillips expects the volunteers to arrive near the Subway in Plains between 5 and 5:30 p.m.
This year all of the volunteers needed for the torch run already have the 77 miles covered.
Last year the torch run raised roughly around $4,000 and this year Phillips expects to meet that goal.
The Torch Run accepts donations from businesses or private parties and has been busy selling t-shirts to earn proceeds that will stay in the state of Montana and go to the Special Olympics of Montana.
“I’m a very strong supporter of the Special Olympics,” said Phillips. “I think it’s very important for the athletes to have this in their lives and it brings a lot to the communities and more awareness to get more athletes involved.”
Gene Arnold will be in charge of the Pony Express run which will be 46 miles of the stretch. This year the team of horseback riders will start up by Noxon and travel through Thompson Falls, passing off the torch as they go.
According to Arnold, the whole state takes part in the organization of the Torch Run and the destination lands in Great Falls.
Each team of horses, typically a pack of volunteers carry the torch a mile, sometimes taking on a few more miles down the road.
“It’s a big deal,” said Arnold. “We run more money per capita from this little county than any part of the state.”
For those interested in purchasing a t-shirt to help donate to the Special Olympics, call April Philips at 529-1435.