Community Support for Special Olympics

Our community deserves a participation medal. The Torch Run for Special Olympics was held in Glasgow on Thursday. You may have heard sirens, and if you hit any stretch of Highway 2 between 8 and 9 a.m., there’s a good chance you saw a parade with a mixture of emergency support vehicles and pedestrians moving westward.

The Torch Run, which is sponsored entirely by law enforcement personnel and their fundraising efforts, began in Montana in 1985. Its primary purpose is to raise awareness and funds for the Special Olympics. Our community succeeded in that purpose on May 10.

On Thursday, the Flame of Hope was carried from the Cottonwood Inn all the way to Malta, which is 70 miles to the west of Glasgow.

Likely due to the apparent enthusiasm and energy of the event organizers, the support from Glasgow was phenomenal.

Despite the dreary but tolerable weather, countless community members walked with the athletes on their trek from Triple A Glass to Ezzie’s Westend, where even more people were on hand to congratulate the walkers. Supporters also lined the highway in their vehicles to encourage the group.

Area businesses once again donated to a great cause without hesitation. Law enforcement and other emergency personnel along with community groups and individual supporters all happily assisted with portions of the running, walking, and biking on the Torch’s journey on the Hi-Line through Valley County.

It was just a reminder of how supportive and generous our little corner of northeast Montana can be. If you see a law enforcement officer from any of the agencies in our area, be sure to thank them for their support of the Special Olympics in Montana, and take some time to thank our local businesses for their unwavering support of our community and its members.