Torch run for Special Olympics

Meg MacKay (Front left), Kerryn Lowe, Greta Pattison, Deena Rigby (tenpin bowling), Mark King; football (middle left), Harris Raihania; golf, Greta Dinneen, Karen Martin, Briar Greaney, Shaun Cameron, Lance Dustow, McKenzie Donaldson (front left), Brent Dustow; swimming supervisor, Oliver Hirczy, David Male, Jamie Vance, James Farrell, Nicola Hartigan. Photo / Supplied

The Special Olympics Flame of Hope will travel through Central Hastings on Saturday, ahead of the National Summer Games in Wellington on November 27.

The event, which is part of the Law Enforcement Torch Run, will see the Hawke's Bay police join some of the region's top special Olympics athletes.

The LETR kicked off in Kerikeri and Invercargill on September 30, and two torches are currently travelling up and down the islands, meeting at Parliament on Friday 24.

Similar in style to the Olympic torch relay, the Hastings leg of the LETR is one of 31 torch run and fundraising events that raise awareness and money for the Special Olympics movement.

More than 1300 athletes from 42 Special Olympics Clubs and three schools will take part in this year's Games, which will take place from 27 November to 1 December.

Globally more than 90,000 police professionals and supporters across 35 countries participate in Law Enforcement Torch Runs.

Sports Coordinator of Special Olympics Hawke's Bay and Team Manager, Margaret Baker said the games were important as they were a chance to put into action the training they have undergone for the past four years and either achieve a personal best or a medal."

Chief Executive of Special Olympics New Zealand, Kathy Gibson said, "The LETR is one of the highlights of major Special Olympics events, and this year we are excited that the torches will travel to all regions and clubs taking part in the National Summer Games."

"The support of the New Zealand Police and other service personnel is hugely valued and we look forward to taking to the streets with them as we move throughout the country."

She said that in addition to raising awareness of Special Olympics in New Zealand, the LETR helped to promote and support Special Olympics' Athlete Leadership Programme (ALPs) - a programme that provides athletes with the tools and experiences to become leaders in their own right and to speak for themselves.

Director of LETR NZ, Inspector Mark Harrison, of Palmerston North said the "Flame represents so much of what policing is about - it stands for hope, courage, opportunity, inspiration and equality."

"Once again we are delighted to be able to support the build up to the National Summer Games. Law enforcement staff are proud to run alongside the athletes through our communities as the Flame of Hope makes its way to the Games in Wellington."

Held every four years, the Special Olympics New Zealand National Summer Games is the largest event for athletes with intellectual disabilities in New Zealand.

The Games are run by Special Olympics New Zealand, which provides a year-round programme of sports training and competition for children and adults with intellectual disabilities.

The Hastings leg will begin at 12pm from Hastings Police Station on Railway Rd. Special Olympics athletes and local police will carry the Flame of Hope down Railway Rd and Russell St, passing through the Kmart carpark and then travelling down Sir James Wattie Pl to finish at Mitre 10 Mega.