Illinois Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics Scott Brown Memorial Run passes through Lincoln with special stops along the way

[June 18, 2022]   On Thursday, a group of runners for the Illinois Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics passed through Logan County on its way to Bloomington.

This particular group is one of 22 that are running this week. All the groups will completed their runs on Friday, in time to be on hand for the opening ceremonies of the Illinois Special Olympics Summer Games taking place this weekend.

The group was organized and led by retired Illinois State Police Officer Diane Vanderkooy with assistance from local volunteer Brittany Ott, and representatives from the Logan County Sheriff’s Office and Lincoln Police Department.

The group started out Thursday morning in Springfield and ran along Route 66, arriving at New Union Cemetery in Lincoln at approximately 2 p.m. Members of the Lincoln Police Department and other volunteers joined the group at the cemetery then ran with together through town to Graue Chevrolet.

The stop at the cemetery in Lincoln was a planned event in honor of the late Logan County Sheriff’s Deputy Scott Brown. After Brown passed away in February of 2021, the leg of the run through Lincoln was designated at the Scott Brown Memorial Run.



On Thursday, Brown’s wife Dawn greeted the runners as they came to a stop underneath the shady area at the cemetery’s front entrance. Just a few feet from the entrance is the grave stone for Scott Brown.



Everyone gathered around the stone for a group photo.

Pictured from the right to left, Sheriff Mark Landers holding the torch with Chase Metz, Special Olympian Ben Simpson and Special Olympian Jacob Seelbach.

Joining the runners in Logan County were Special Olympians Chase Metz, Ben Simpson and Jacob Seelbach.



As everyone gathered around the marker, Vanerkooy spoke briefly she began noting that this was a special leg of the run because the segment from Springfield through Lincoln honored two special members of law enforcement now deceased. She explained that the run has been done in honor of Officer Brian McMillan for the last 16 years, and now it is also being done in honor of Deputy Brown.

Vanderkooy acknowledged Dawn Brown and asked if she would like to speak. Dawn said that all she could say was thank you and if she went any farther she would begin to cry.

Logan County Sheriff Mark Landers was on hand and also expressed appreciation to all those who were out in the heat making the run for Special Olympics.

Vanderkooy concluded, “Thank you for running for Scott Brown and Special Olympics. You guys are owning this leg and we see it building and building.”

After getting the photo, Special Olympian Jacob Seelbach was asked to lead the entire group in the Special Olympic Athlete Oath. “Let me win, but if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt.”

As the group prepared to move on it was agreed that they were going to make a quick stop at the Lincoln Center for Developmental Rehabilitation. From there the run would continue on to Graue Chevrolet on North Kickapoo Street. Runners were told they could stop along the way as they needed or desired, and there were plenty of vehicles including the Logan County EMA pick-up truck pulling a trailer, that runners could get into or on for a break.

At the Lincoln Center for Developmental Rehabilitation there were a number of people waiting alongside the street for the runners to arrive. They all clapped and cheered as the group came into view traveling north on South Postville Drive. When the group stopped they were met with many happy faces and heard words of encouragement.

The runners spent several minutes speaking with the various cheerleaders in the group. The LCDR is a center for those with disabilities, and some of those present are also Special Olympians or have been in the past. The runners talked with as many as they had time for, and also enjoyed having their photos taken with the clients of the LCDR.

Then it was time to keep moving. The plan was to be in Atlanta before they called it a day, and then on Friday morning complete the run into Bloomington. Upon arrival in Bloomington they would have a chance to eat a good meal then take it easy for the rest of the afternoon. The opening ceremony for the weekend was scheduled for Friday evening with a long list of activities ending with a fireworks show.

[Nila Smith]