Volunteers carry Special Olympics torch through Lake County

Polson Police Department volunteers, about 20 Special Olympians and several citizens carried a torch through Polson May 13 as part of the department’s annual Law Enforcement Torch Run, a fundraiser for Montana State Summer Special Olympics. 

Olympians arrived at the corner of First Street East and Highway 93 at about 8:30 a.m. to meet volunteers. School-aged and young-adult athletes celebrated the annual run and helped usher in the official state games this week.

Members of every Lake County law enforcement agency carried the torch through Lake County, beginning in Rollins May 12.

The Law Enforcement Torch Run that began in eastern Montana and ended in Missoula, is intended to raise money and awareness for the Montana Special Olympics games.

Polson Police Department Sergeant Devon McCrea said that the Polson Police Department held an April fundraiser to raise an additional $1,000 for the Special Olympics.

During the April Tip-a-Cop fundraiser, members of the department served meals to patrons at Polson’s Pizza Hut restaurant, whose management donated 10 percent of its sales generated during the four-hour event. Those donations were delivered to the Special Olympics through the Law Enforcement Torch Run.

In the future, McCrea said the fundraiser planning committee has several event ideas they hope to pursue. One is a polar plunge called “Freezing for a Reason,” scheduled for November.

But for this year, organizers focused on the Torch Run, where participants collected donation pledges before the event. The final total for that donation was not finished at press time.

Law enforcement participants for this year’s Torch Run through Lake County included every Lake County agency and many citizen participants, she said.

McCrea said the Torch Run is open to everyone, not just law enforcement.

“We had several athletes and involved along with employees and the residents of Mission Mountain Enterprises in both Polson and Ronan,” she said. “I want to remind people that you do not have to be in Law Enforcement to be involved to walk, run, bike or horseback for such a great cause. We had several citizens of Lake County that participated this year and we appreciate all the involvement from everyone who participated.”

The torch was passed to Ryan Prather, a Missoula County Sheriff’s deputy at the Missoula/Lake County border May 13, McCrea said.

Polson Pirate Special Olympics athletes got the chance to hold the burning torch that will finish its state-wide journey in Missoula just in time for Special Olympics games to begin May 17, Polson Pirates Special Olympics Coach Kris Kelly said.

Participating athletes represented Polson School District as well as Mission Mountain Enterprises, an adult group home for special-needs residents.

“Any student that wants to carry the torch for a bit gets to do it,” Kelly said. 

Kelly, who works at Polson High School, said she enjoyed coaching Special Olympics students for many years. 

Kelly works tirelessly with her team of Polson Pirates Special Olympics athletes. 

Each one has his or her favorite sport. Each one has his or her special gift. 

During the Special Olympics season, athletes first compete in a smaller, more local-level competition. Qualifiers continue participating at the state level. This year’s athletes who will participate are: Kyler Gage in track and field; Martin Schlensker in swimming and track and field; Rakeena Caye in swimming and track and field; Dothan Stene in swimming and track and field; Mercedes Dunkerson  in swimming and track and field; Fayth Fallat in swimming and track and field; Rochele Farnsworth in swimming and track and field; John BakerStreet in bocce ball and track and field; Chance Hoover in bocce ball and track and field; Aiden Finley in swimming and track and field; Kiya Kelly in swimming and track and field; Paul Nield in bocce ball and track and field; Chris Alexander in bocce ball and track and field and Robbie Hayes in golf and swimming.

Special Olympics Montana held its first Summer State Games in 1970 with about 400 athletes, a Special Olympics Montana website said. 

More than 40 years later, 2,000 Special Olympians participate in the state games and represent 65 Montana communities who train and compete year round. Special Olympian athletes become eligible at age eight, and remain eligible to participate throughout their life. About half of annual Special Olympians are adults, the website said.

Special Olympics sports include alpine skiing, aquatics, track and field, basketball, bocce ball, cross country skiing, cycling, equestrian, floor hockey, golf, gymnastics, kayaking, powerlifting, snowboarding, snowshoeing, soccer and the triathlon.