The Special Olympics Montana Summer Games Torch Run began last week in Fairview with law enforcement and Fairview track team members running through the town’s downtown area.
The Law Enforcement Torch Run, which benefits Special Olympics, began Tuesday morning in Fairview with law enforcement and Fairview track team members running through the town’s downtown area. Pictured are Officer Alex Esteves, Sidney Police Department, Trooper Jason Love, Montana Highway Patrol, Deputy Gabe Zeiler, Richland County Sheriff’s Department, Dean Risenger, Special Olympics participant, Officer Alex Roselles, Sidney Police Department, Deputy Wyatt Ueker, Richland County Sheriff’s Department.
Dean Risinger stood with his friends from Fairview School anxiously waiting for the sirens of local law enforcement. The sirens signaled the start of the Montana Special Olympics Summer Games Torch Run from the North Dakota border into Montana continuing on to Billings.
Risinger participated in the divisional events earlier this month taking home three gold medals and one silver. He began participating in the Special Olympics Montana three years ago.
Risinger’s mother, Michelle Andreasen, says Fairview has been very supportive of her son’s involvement in Special Olympics. The Torch Run originally started at the state border and for many years only started at Sidney. Since Risinger is a student at Fairview Schools the Torch Run went back to starting at the border again.
“The school, the town of Fairview, everyone has been so supportive of Dean’s participation,” said Andreasen, “He really feels proud to be a part of this.”
Risinger will not be competing in this year’s state games but has been included in the closing ceremonies with a soccer shootout.
This year after going through Fairview, the route for the Torch Run was different than it traditionally has been, due to safety concerns. The runners went on County Road 350 instead of Highway 200 into Sidney. From there, volunteer runners including members of the Sidney track team took the torch down to Glendive.
The Torch Run is the largest grassroots fundraiser for the Special Olympics and has raised $125 million nationwide since it began in 1985. The Law Enforcement Torch Run began in 1981 when Wichita, Kan. Police Chief Richard LaMunyon conceived the Torch Run as a way to involve local law enforcement personnel in the community and to support Special Olympics Kansas. After three years of successful Torch Runs in Kansas, LaMunyon presented the program to the International Association of Chiefs of Police. The Torch Run is now active in 35 countries around the world.
The Special Olympics Montana Summer Games are May 15-18 in Billings, MT.
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