This week has been designated by the Province of Manitoba as Special Olympics Week. To bring awareness and raise money for Special Olympics, a committee of law enforcement agencies across the province came together to support the international group. The Law Enforcement Torch Run (LETR), comprised of law enforcement officials from across the province, hosted one such event Tuesday morning involving police services and the public in a community run.

Morden's run started from the RCMP Morden Detachment, ending at the Morden Police Service station.

Constable Scott Edwards has been participating in the LETR since the Morden Police Service decided to aid Special Olympics four years ago. He says participating is a way to become more involved in the community, and support a good cause.

"I think being involved in the community is a big part of a police service, as well as the cause Special Olympics is something I have been involved with for a long time. I think a lot of our members enjoy being a part of, the Torch Run is something very simple for us to be a part in to show our support."

Police escorted the group of over 100 Ecole Morden Middle School students, with a number of young Special Olympic athletes who rode along as marshals in the police cruisers.

 

This was the fourth year Morden Police Service has participated in LETR.

Though this was only an awareness event, and asking for financial support wasn't the goal, all funds raised at this, and other Special Olympics Manitoba fundraising events, go towards promotion and programming, explains Darren Anderson, Manager of LETR & Partnerships at Special Olympics Manitoba.

Anderson says their main mission is to enrich the lives of people with intellectual disabilities through participation in sport. With Special Olympics Manitoba Awareness week here, Anderson notes now is a time to celebrate and support about 75 athletes which will be travelling to Nova Scotia to compete in the Special Olympics Canada Summer Games.

Four runs are happening this week: Winnipeg held one last week, Morden and Portage La Prairie's were Tuesday, with Steinbach hosting a run Wednesday.

The walk was an opportunity to raise awareness for Special Olympic