Special Olympics Flame of Hope to light up the Nation

Flame of Hope 2009

London, 25/06/09 - Between 12 and 25 July the Special Olympics Flame of Hope will travel from Much Wenlock, through 45 towns and cities, to Leicester to light up Special Olympics GB National Summer Games. The 2009 Law Enforcement Torch Run® for Special Olympics Great Britain, supported by National Grid, will cover over 800 miles, escorted by British Police Officers.

The nationwide Law Enforcement Torch Run® leads to the Opening Ceremony of Special Olympics Great Britain National Summer Games in Leicester, set to be the biggest Games to date. It will attract over 2,700 athletes representing 19 Special Olympics regions across the UK, 1,200 coaches, 1,500 volunteers and 6,000 families to Leicestershire for a week of Olympic-style sports competitions in the largest multi-sports event in the UK this year.

On July 12, the lighting ceremony of the Flame of Hope will take place in Much Wenlock, home of the first modern Olympic Games in 1850. Representatives from police forces across Great Britain will escort the Flame of Hope in a series of relays through the UK’s top cities, including Leeds, Manchester and London, to Leicester in time for this year’s much awaited event.

Lawrie McMenemy MBE, Chairman of Special Olympics Great Britain, said: “The Law Enforcement Torch Run® provides a fantastic opportunity to get behind the athletes and support them in the run up to the Special Olympics GB National Summer Games. It is great to see such enthusiasm from our British police. The support from every city involved in the Torch Run is truly heart-warming and I’m sure it will provide a great send-off for the athletes and contribute to an unforgettable National Summer Games.”

Steve Holliday, Chief Executive of National Grid, said: “As the Official Partner of Special Olympics Great Britain, we are delighted to be supporting the Law Enforcement Torch Run® in the lead up to the National Summer Games in Leicester. At National Grid we like to think of ourselves as going the extra mile for this special charity and hundreds of our volunteers really enjoy and benefit from their involvement in the Special Olympics Movement. This is a great opportunity to help raise awareness of Special Olympics Great Britain and the Games, which is set to be a wonderful event.”

Acting Assistant Chief Constable North Yorkshire and Chairman of the British Law Enforcement Torch Run®, Tim Madgwick, said: “This is the fourth major Special Olympics Torch Run we have been involved in Great Britain, previously having supported two World Games and two National Games Torch Runs. It is fantastic that we are part of what is the largest grassroots fundraising and public awareness event for Special Olympics in the world. It is our goal to raise over £50,000 to help towards the development of the Special Olympics programme in Great Britain.”

The Flame of Hope will be visiting National Grid offices at Newcastle, Manchester, Hinckley, Warwick, Northampton and London. National Grid volunteers will be joining the run around the country and supporting the last leg of the journey from Hinckley into Leicester before the start of the Games on 25 July.

THE FLAME OF HOPE ROUTE
July 12th Official Torch Lighting Ceremony at Wenlock Olympian Games - Much Wenlock
July 13th Newcastle
July 14th Leeds
July 15th Manchester
July 16th Northampton
July 16th Slough
July 17th London

The Flame of Hope – Final Leg
July 22nd  - Wymondham, Morley St Botolph, Great Ellingham, Rockland St Peter, Lower Stow Beddon, Great Hockham, Stonebridge, Hockwood Cum Wilton, Chatteris

July 23rd - Ramsey, Ramsey St Mary’s, Holme, Glatton, Great Gidding / Chapel End, Fayway, Titchmarsh, Thrapston, Woodwell, Panford St John, Isham, Oringbury, Broughton, Scaldwell, Brixworth, Creaton, West Haddon, Watford

July 24th - Birdingbury, Royal Leamington Spa, Warwick, Cubbington, Baginton, Shilton, Bulkington, Brancote, Hinckley

July 25th -National Summer Games Leicester Opening Ceremony, Walker Stadium, Leicester

The 2009 Law Enforcement Torch Run®
Founded in 1981 by Police Chief Richard La Munyon in the USA, as a way to involve local law enforcement personnel in supporting Special Olympics, the Law Enforcement Torch Run® for Special Olympics has grown to become the largest grassroots fundraising and public awareness vehicle for Special Olympics in the world.