With an enthusiastic grin a mile wide, Betty Coleman runs toward the camera with a cardboard torch and says, 害羞草研究所業害羞草研究所檓 Betty Coleman from Chilliwack and I害羞草研究所檓 passing the torch to you!害羞草研究所�

The whole thing takes no more than 10 seconds, but Betty has just provided one piece of a much larger puzzle.

Her clip will be combined with many more just like it in a video collage, showing torches being passed across the province virtually where they would normally be passed physically.

The 30th Law Enforcement Torch Run in support of Special Olympics will look and feel different, but RCMP spokesperson Krista Vrolyk believes the spirit of the event remains.

害羞草研究所淣ormally we all gather at Sardis secondary school and we run together 害羞草研究所� police officers, Special Olympics athletes and other supporters 害羞草研究所� we run along Vedder road and we finish at the Pacific Region Training Centre where we showcase our local athletes and celebrate our partnership.

害羞草研究所淩unning side-by-side with the athletes is an event that we (RCMP) look forward to every year, and I know it害羞草研究所檚 a highlight for the athletes as well. But because of the pandemic we害羞草研究所檝e had to change things up.害羞草研究所�

Coleman is all-in on the torch run, no matter what form it takes.

She competes in a long list of Special Olympics sports including bowling (her favourite), bocce ball, swimming, club fit and family fitness.

A lot of what she does might not be possible without the funding that is generated by the Law Enforcement Torch Run, which pays for things like transportation, uniforms and facility rentals.

害羞草研究所淭he RCMP helps us out a lot,害羞草研究所� Coleman says. 害羞草研究所淭he torch run is awesome. I害羞草研究所檝e never been able to hold the torch before, but it害羞草研究所檚 been really cool watching Derek (Trainor) do it last year was cool.

害羞草研究所淲hen they asked me to do it this year, I was like, 害羞草研究所業t害羞草研究所檚 awesome! It害羞草研究所檚 so cool!害羞草研究所櫤π卟菅芯克鶟

Doing it virtually instead of physically isn害羞草研究所檛 what Coleman had in mind, but she害羞草研究所檚 the type of person who sees the upside in any scenario.

害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 different, but we害羞草研究所檒l be getting more funds this year because some people are donating by the kilometre (for each km athletes run on their own), and some people are just donating,害羞草研究所� she said. 害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檝e raised $300.害羞草研究所�

Vrolyk said the Law Enforcement Torch Run, virtual edition, has raised $30,000 so far across B.C. and there is still time to donate.

For more info see

eric.welsh@theprogress.com
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