A Special Occasion Kaua’i for your calendars! Special Olympics Kaua’i

Please join 2015 Leg Leader, Sgt. Rod Green along with the Kaua’i Police Department and many friends and volunteers of Special Olympics Kaua’i as they escort the “Flame of Hope” in this year’s Troy Barboza Special Olympics Torch Run on Saturday, April 25th at 7:15 AM. Opening Ceremonies and Track & Field Meet will immediately follow the Torch Run.

Torch Run day of registration begins at 7:15 AM, run/walk will begin at 7:45 AM, both at Vidinha Stadium. Anyone and everyone are welcome and invited to take part in the event.

Preregistration forms are available at any First Hawaiian Bank branch or through Sergeant Rod Green (241-1669), this year’s leg leader.

Whether you run, jog or walk this is an easy and worthwhile event to support. Torch Run will begin at the Vidinha Stadium, run past the police station, southbound on Kapule; right turn by the old gym and into the stadium for one victory lap! The short mile is rated for everyone.

Torch Run will kick off the opening ceremonies to the Track & Field Meet. Athletes will compete in fourteen various events that included the 50 Meter Dash, Standing and Running Long Jump, Shot Put, Softball Throw and Unified Sports® relay events — Unified Sports® combines Special Olympics Athletes with athletes without intellectual disabilities (partners) on sports teams for training and competition.

The Torch Run was created in 1981 by Chief Richard Lamunyon of Wichita, Kansas, who, along with a couple of deputies, ran the first torch run for Special Olympics. The torch is now carried by law enforcement officers — referred to as “Guardians of the Flame” — in every state and in more than 40 other countries.

In Hawai’i, the Torch Run is named after fallen Honolulu Police Officer Troy Barboza, who volunteered as a Special Olympics coach and participated in the first Torch Run in Hawai’i.

A special mahalo to The Grand Hyatt Kaua’i and First Hawaiian Bank for making this year’s Torch Run such a tremendous success.

For more information about Special Olympics Kaua’i and/or upcoming events please contact Jocelyn Barriga at 652-8662.

Over the past 40 years, Special Olympics has grown from a modest program serving local athletes to become the world’s largest movement dedicated to promoting respect, acceptance, inclusion, and human dignity for people with intellectual disabilities through sports. We are a movement through which the power of sport transforms the lives of people with intellectual disabilities and also unites everyone by fostering community-building and civil society. If you are a fan of sports that create unity, athletes who inspire, and connections that foster acceptance, then you are already a fan of Special Olympics.