|
 In conjunction with the torch run, one leg of the
run passing through Lincoln will be the Scott Brown Memorial Run,
done in memory of Deputy Scott Brown of the Logan County Sheriff’s
Office.
The community is invited to come out and show their support for the
Torch Run, Special Olympics and the runners from Logan County.
The run will be taking a route along Route 66 starting the second
day of the run in Springfield at approximately 8 a.m. on Thursday
morning.
Throughout the day, the runners involved will be members of law
enforcement joined by Special Olympians and other groups supporting
the event.
In Springfield runners will be joined by the 183rd Fighter Wing Air
National Guard Security Unit.
Diane Vanderkooy is retired Illinois State Police and is thoroughly
dedicated to the annual torch run through this part of the state.
She said this week that the run she is involved with will start in
Gillespie, go to Springfield, then through Logan County and on to
Bloomington. Her group of runners is one of 22 that will carry
torches into Bloomington in time for the kick-off of the Illinois
Summer Special Olympics on Friday.
She noted that the runners will make stops along the way. Among the
scheduled stops will be one in Springfield in memory of State
Trooper McMillan who was a part of the 183rd and died in the line of
duty with the State Police.
The runners are expected to be at the Sangamon and Logan County line
around 11 a.m. In Williamsville runners will be joined by the
Williamsville Police Department and the Williamsville High School
Cross Country Team. The group is expected to run from Williamsville
to Elkhart, arriving in Elkhart around 12:15 p.m.
In Elkhart, the runners will be joined by Illinois State Police
Forensic Department members as the event continues on to Broadwell,
arriving there at approximately 1:20 p.m.
By shortly after 2 p.m. the group is expected to arrive in Lincoln
where the leg passing through town will be labeled as the Scott
Brown Memorial Run. This is the second year for the memorial run in
memory of the late Scott Brown who was a Logan County Sheriff
Deputy, a county D.A.R.E. officer, as well as a martial arts
instructor in Lincoln. Brown died on February 14, 2021 after
battling cancer. The first memorial run in his name was held that
summer and was also incorporated into the Torch Run.
Lieutenant Mike Block of the Logan County Sheriff’s Department
commented on the leg through Lincoln and how it came about. “Diane
Vanderkooy, now retired ISP, has been a long-time participant,
leader and ambassador for the Torch Run, specifically the leg which
runs through Logan County. At the same time, Logan County Deputy
Scott Brown was a participant. His leadership and care for this
community is a large reason our leg continues to participate, even
if there is only one runner available. Diane and I spoke after
Scott’s passing and leading up to the Torch Run in 2021 and decided
to unofficially name the section from New Union Cemetery through
Lincoln, the Scott Brown Memorial Run.”
Block added, “We have reached out to some other organizations and
community members to gain more participation. You see, although in
the name you will find “Law Enforcement” Torch Run, it is all about
the community as a whole helping to take care of their own. Any
involvement with or other relationship to law enforcement is not
necessary; any person can participate. The real goal is raising
awareness and funds for Special Olympics Illinois.”
Vanderkooy said that the run will make a stop at New Union Cemetery
and any runners who wish to join the run through Lincoln can do so
there. She noted that the leg of the run through Lincoln is the
Scott Brown Run and the stop at the New Union Cemetery will include
a short tribute to Brown, who is laid to rest at New Union.
Vanderkooy said that she knew Brown well and admired him as a law
enforcement officer and as a person with great love for young
people. She noted that she was involved in an ISP tactical arrest
training program, leading classes held for other law enforcement
agencies. She said she came up with the thought that there were law
enforcement officers in other agencies who could be a part of the
instruction. When the idea came to fruition, Brown was one of the
first to step up and say he would help with that training.
Vanderkooy said he was a valuable asset to the program and became a
good friend during that process. Speaking
about the role she would play in memorializing Trooper McMillan and
Deputy Brown she said that she knew both men well, and that to be a
part of remembering them was an honor and a pleasure, but it also
still hurts a bit.
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The runners are expected to be at New Union at 2:05 p.m. on
Thursday and the community is invited to come out as well.
When the runners arrive in Lincoln, the scheduled route will be Lincoln Parkway
to New Union Cemetery to South Postville Drive, to Fifth Street, South Logan
Street and then Pulaski Street to the downtown area. That leg is expected to run
from 2:05 p.m. to 2:50 p.m.
The group will veer off of Lincoln Parkway onto South Postville Drive so it can
do a run-by at the Lincoln Center for Developmental Rehabilitation (more
commonly known as Logan-Mason Rehab) at 760 South Postville Drive.
LCDR Administrator Karen Deany said that the clients at the facility typically
spend time preparing signs to cheer on the runners. On the day of the run, she
expects that several will be outside the building along the route ready to show
their support for the torch run. Deany said that most of the clients at the LCDR
do not participate in the run, but she is quite certain that there are other
Special Olympics groups that do. The clients at LDCR want to show their support
and appreciation to all those that are running to raise awareness and funding
for the Special Olympics events.
Vanderkooy said that the run is planning a short stop at the LCDR, although at
the time of the comment, she had not confirmed it yet with the administration.
She said that the people at LCDR have always been supportive, and some of the
special Olympians are there cheering and giving them heartwarming encouragement.
She wants the group of runners to stop just to say hello to all and spend some
quality time with the staff and clients of the facility.
After passing through the downtown area, the run will then proceed on North
Kickapoo Street past Graue Chevrolet. Runners will leave Lincoln at
approximately 2:50 p.m. and travel on to the Lawndale area arriving there at
3:45 p.m. and then at Atlanta by 4:30 p.m. This will end the day for the
runners, with the run resuming on Friday, June 17th at approximately 9 a.m.
Vanderkooy said the goal is to reach Atlanta before calling it a day, but that
doesn’t always happen. She said there was more than a good chance that the group
would end the day in Lincoln, then get off to a strong start on Friday on the
final stretch of the run.
On Friday, the runners will exit Logan County and continue on to Bloomington.
The run will end in Bloomington at the Double Tree Hotel at approximately 12:45
p.m.
The arrival in Bloomington will coincide with the opening day of the Illinois
Special Olympics Summer Competitions. Participating Special Olympians are
expected to arrive in Bloomington throughout the morning. There will be special
activities throughout the afternoon with the opening ceremony for the athletic
competitions scheduled to begin at 6 p.m.
The ceremonies will begin with a participant parade starting at 6 p.m. and will
conclude at approximately 9:15 p.m. with a fireworks show. Ceremonies will be
held at the Illinois State University Track and Hancock Stadium.
The Special Olympics competitions will continue through Sunday, June 19th.
On Thursday, the community is encouraged to come out along the Logan County
route a cheer on the runners. Showing support for the effort of the many law
enforcement officers, Special Olympians and other groups joining in the run
boosts the morale of the runners and shows them that what they are doing is
important to all of us.
The route is generally going to be along Route 66 and with the run passing
through various Logan County towns and communities, there is plenty of
opportunity to stand along the sidelines with posters and other signs of
support.
Anyone who wishes to provide a donation to the Torch Run may do so in a variety
of ways including two ongoing raffles for a Coleman 17B camper or for a Harley
Davison Motorcycle. Raffles tickets for the camper may be purchased by visiting
https://www.
soill.org/blog/events/camper-raffle/. Tickets for the motorcycle may
be obtained by visiting
https://www.soill.org/ blog/events/HARLEY-RAFFLE/
Ticket Sales for both raffles will close on October 7th with the drawing for the
winners conducted on October 14th.
[Nila Smith] |
