May 13-19, 2012 is National Police Week, an event created after President John F. Kennedy signed a proclamation designating May 15th as “Peace Officer Memorial Day” in 1962 to recognize law enforcement across the country and remember fallen heroes. Special Olympics Wisconsin would like to thank the 1,000 officers throughout the state who not only serve their communities, but help raise funds and awareness of the nearly 10,000 athletes with intellectual disabilities that train and compete in Special Olympics Wisconsin through the Law Enforcement Torch Run® (LETR).

Chief Kurt Heuer of the Wisconsin Rapids Police Department has been volunteering for Special Olympics Wisconsin (SOWI) since 1999. He has been an inspiration to his department and his community to get involved and give back to the athletes in his region through the Law Enforcement Torch Run® (LETR). His hard work and dedication has accomplished so much for the North Central Region in many more ways than consistently being the top fundraiser for the Wisconsin Rapids Polar Plunge.

Eleven Texas Roadhouse restaurants across the state raised over $34,000 for Special Olympics Wisconsin (SOWI) on Monday, January 16 during the Guardians of the Flame® FREE lunch event.

Texas Roadhouse opened its doors from 11a.m.-2p.m. to serve free pulled pork sandwiches, applesauce, fries and soda to more than 5,200 Special Olympics supporters. Local law enforcement officers teamed up with the wait staff to serve the meal and collect tips, all of which will benefit the 10,000 Special Olympics athletes in Wisconsin.

Over the past three years, Officer Tanisha Kerner with the Racine Youthful Offender Correctional Facility has continually been involved with Special Olympics Wisconsin (SOWI). After being introduced to the Law Enforcement Torch Run® (LETR) by coworker Steve Janus, Officer Kerner said, “I couldn’t stop myself from being involved. I have met tons of people, athletes and made lots of new friends.”

The Law Enforcement Torch Run® (LETR) for Special Olympics recently celebrated its 30th Anniversary at the 2011 International LETR Conference in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Wisconsin received the Diamond Level of Excellence award, being one of 13 programs that raised more than $1 million in 2011. Wisconsin has the 6th Largest LETR Program in the world raising $2,386,592 in 2011 and a grand total of $19,270,049 since the LETR began in Wisconsin in 1986!

Special Olympics Wisconsin (SOWI) is pleased to announce that Texas Roadhouse® is a new statewide Law Enforcement Torch Run Partner! You can see this new partnership in action-at all 11 Texas Roadhouse locations in Wisconsin on Monday, January 16, 2012 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. during the Guardians of the Flame® FREE Lunch event. 

In his inaugural year as Superintendent of the Wisconsin State Patrol, Stephen Fitzgerald has shown strong support of the Law Enforcement Torch Run® for Special Olympics Wisconsin. His involvement with the movement began shortly after being appointed Superintendent, when he was invited to be a judge at the Madison Polar Plunge®.

The 7th annual World’s Largest Truck Convoy® presented by Quad/Graphics was held on Saturday, September 17th to raise money for the 10,000 athletes of Special Olympics Wisconsin. Truck drivers, athletes, volunteers, and law enforcement dedicated an early morning drive from Richfield to Oshkosh to help raise over $70,000 for the Law Enforcement Torch Run® event. As the sun began to rise, drivers registered their trucks, met athletes, and listened to a performance by special guest, Leland Martin, sponsored by JX Peterbilt.

Cedarburg resident Kayla Roble is raising her $1,500 registration fee for Over the Edge in some pretty typical ways – sending email and facebook messages – and also some not so typical ways – handwriting letters and having t-shirts made. Guess which method she found worked best? Surprisingly, the letters sent via snail mail.

The 22nd annual Waupun Truck-N-Show, a 400-truck event in Waupun, Wis., recently raised $7,750 for Special Olympics Wisconsin (SOWI) as this was the fifth year in a row they chose SOWI as the recipient of the proceeds from the Lights of the Night Convoy held at the event on Friday, August 12.