The Baltimore/Annapolis, MD Chapter’s Tie to the Law Enforcement Torch Run

Submitted by Danielle Dailey, FAADOM, Baltimore/Annapolis, MD Chapter President

 

Our Baltimore/Annapolis, MD Chapter Member, Sharon Garner, DAADOM has a close relationship with the Special Olympics Maryland Law Enforcement Torch Run. This is a cause that is very dear to her heart because she and her husband have an adopted son who is a special Olympic Athlete with over 50 medals in multiple sports, including baseball, bocce, tennis, bowling, and basketball.

Back story: Law enforcement agencies from all the counties in Maryland sell t-shirts and baseball caps as a fundraiser for the LETR to support Special Olympics Maryland. Once a year, usually around June, there’s a related torch run that starts in one area, runs throughout the state, and ends in Towson at the Special Olympics Maryland Summer Games where they light the torch in a grand ceremony like the regular Olympics. The torch is carried by and handed off to police departments (“Guardians of the Flame”) in each county throughout the state. It’s very cool and highly visible. In case you want more details, their link is https://www.specialolympics.org/get-involved/partners-of-the-movement/government-ngo-partners/law-enforcement-torch-run.

This year we had 8 members who contributed to the fundraiser and purchased the torch run t-shirts. The 6 members that attended AADOM22 had an evening where we wore our shirts in honor of this amazing cause.