WORLD’S LARGEST TRUCK CONVOY AND LOCAL TORCH RUN ARE BACK IN SUPPORT OF SPECIAL OLYMPICS ATHLETES
Private event, closed for public, media encouraged to attend.
Brantford, Ontario – On Saturday, September 18, 2021 the 17th Annual Truck Convoy and the local Annual Law Enforcement Torch Run (LETR) both in support of Special Olympics, will be coming together at the Paris Fairgrounds in Paris, Ontario.
The Truck Convoy is a unique event in which members of law enforcement take part and escort a convoy of trucks across Ontario highways to raise awareness for their support of Special Olympics athletes. This year, the LETR will kick off the day with a Torch Run within the Paris Fairgrounds. The
Torch Run will consist of members from the Brantford Police Service and Brant County OPP who will carry the Flame of Hope, symbolizing courage and celebration of diversity uniting communities.
"Our local Torch Run was not able to take place in the community last year due to COVID and we are happy to be back out, seeing familiar faces, fueling our passion for giving back to Special Olympics,” says Detective, Constable, Christine McCallum, Brantford Police Service.
The Ontario Truck Convoy is part of an international event that has grown since the first Convoy with the Orange County (Florida) Sheriff’s Department in 2001. The Convoy is also part of the LETR family of events. "This event has developed friendships that go beyond this one day,” said Tammy Blackwell, event coordinator, Truck Convoy. "Over the past 17 years we have seen friendships form from athletes, to truckers, to members of law enforcement – it’s wonderful to see.”
Schedule of Events:
7:00 a.m. Trucks start to arrive at Paris Fairgrounds
8:30 a.m. Live Music: Erick Traplin performs
9:00 a.m. Law Enforcement Torch Run members begin to arrive
9:15 a.m. Top 12 Fundraisers Announcement
9:30 a.m. Law Enforcement Torch Run to take place on fairground tracks
11:00 a.m. Truck Convoy departs Paris Fairgrounds
Interview opportunities available for media upon request.
About the Truck Convoy
The Truck Convoy is a celebration of the trucking industry and its support for Special Olympics. What started as a local event in United States, Florida in 2001, has evolved into an International movement with convoy’s in over 40 states and five provinces that occur annually. The Ontario Truck Convoy began in Paris in 2005.
This year’s route:
1.Exit Paris Fairgrounds, Silver Street/Keg Lane. Turn right.
2.Travel 3.3km to County Road 136/Puttown Road. Turn left.
3.Travel 3.0km to Highway 2/King Street. Turn right at the T-intersection.
4.Travel 7.3km to Middletown Road/Highway 25. Turn left.
5.Travel 3.3km to Highway 403. Turn left onto Highway 403.
6.Travel 17km to Highway 401 West (exit 0). Merge left onto Highway 401.
7.Travel 25.9km to Putnam Road (exit 208).
From there, choose your own route home and we hope to see everyone again next year!
About the Law Enforcement Torch Run
The Ontario Law Enforcement Torch Run® (LETR) is the largest public awareness vehicle and grass-roots fundraiser for Special Olympics. Known honourably as Guardians of the Flame, law enforcement members and Special Olympics athletes carry the "Flame of Hope” into the Opening Ceremony of local competitions, and into Special Olympics Provincial, National, Regional and World Games. Worldwide annually, more than 97,000 dedicated and compassionate law enforcement members carry the "Flame of Hope,” symbolizing courage and celebration of diversity uniting communities around the globe.
The LETR for Special Olympics engages law enforcement worldwide championing acceptance and inclusion for people with intellectual disabilities, starting first with their own communities. Over the years the Torch Run has evolved and now encompasses a variety of innovative fundraising platforms to include Polar Plunges, Tip-A-Cops, NHL Alumni Games, Torch Rides, Truck Convoys, Endurance Series and more. Since inception, the LETR has raised more than $35,000,000 and changed millions of attitudes.
For more information, please visit www.torchrunontario.com
About Special Olympics Ontario
Special Olympics has grown from a modest program serving local athletes to become the world’s largest movement dedicated to promoting respect, acceptance, inclusion, and human dignity for people with intellectual disabilities through sports.
Special Olympics Ontario has optimized the benefits of a healthy and active lifestyle through sport to improve the well-being of individuals with an intellectual disability.
We continue to improve and expand the quality, opportunity and accessibility of sport to individuals with an intellectual disability. Along with this, we strive to improve upon both the awareness and support of the community in regards to Special Olympics Ontario and those involved with us. As an organization, we work to ensure our volunteers are strongly committed to acting locally while thinking globally. Through these steps, we hope to continue to build upon the past success of the organization.
For more information, visit specialolympicsontario.com.
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For more information about the Truck Convoy, please contact:
Cody Jansma
Director, Business Development, Special Olympics Ontario
Tel: 1-888-333-55115 ext. 260
For more information about the involvement of Brantford Police Service, please contact:
Robin Matthews-Osmond
Manager, Corporate Communications, Brantford Police Service