December 2022 LETR Update | Special Olympics Minnesota

We want to wish you and your family a very healthy and happy holiday season! Your efforts have helped us provide many opportunities for thousands of Special Olympics Minnesota athletes. The programs and events we offer are life-changing for so many.

Thank you for all you have done in 2022! We're looking forward to our continued partnership in the coming year. Please take a moment to listen to this special holiday greeting:

Athlete highlight: Mindy Stigall

Mindy Stigall has been a Special Olympics athlete for 18 years. She participates in five sports throughout the year: swimming, bowling, bocce, equestrian and poly hockey. Her biggest Special Olympics thrill was swimming for Team Minnesota in the 2010 National Games in Lincoln, Nebraska, where she was flown in a private jet and won a gold medal and 3 silver medals!

She took her first Athlete Leadership course in 2008 to become a Global Messenger, making speeches and public appearances to raise awareness and support of SOMN. She has continued to take courses in subjects like teamwork, volunteering, advanced public speaking and coaching. She graduated from the first ALPS University class held at Bethel University and enjoyed the expanded opportunities of those weekends staying on campus with other athlete leaders.

Mindy loves speaking to groups of all sizes. Each semester she presents for a professor’s class at the University of Minnesota; she often sees students from those classes volunteering at events because of her speeches. Doing TV interviews and commercials about Special Olympics Minnesota with Ian Leonard are highlights, too!

Working with her law enforcement friends who support Special Olympics Minnesota inspires Mindy. “I get goose bumps when they all come in together at a big event,” she says. She has helped with LETR events like Tip-A-Cop, Cop on Top and the Polar Plunge. She has raised thousands of dollars during the seven Plunges she has taken so far, repeatedly being the top fundraiser for the Anoka County Plunge. She has also volunteered at other Plunge events including the Cool School Plunge and the Executive Plunge, both as a speaker and to mingle with and thank the Plungers.

The most important part of being involved with LETR for Mindy is the relationships that she has formed. She has made friends with officers whom she sees at events and out in the community. Her interactions with every law enforcement volunteer mean the world to her, and she thanks each one for helping to make the world a better place for athletes and their families.

2023 Polar Plunge

We’re looking forward to the 2023 Plunge season! All of your favorite locations are back starting the last weekend of January through next spring. It's the biggest LETR fundraising campaign of the year, so please find a location and register your team or volunteer at www.plungemn.org. This is another great event that brings together many of our law enforcement partners, Special Olympics Minnesota athletes and communities across the state.

LETR National Conference

The 2022 LETR International Conference was held in November. Over 20 people attended the conference as representatives of the Minnesota LETR movement. It was great to reconnect in person with many other LETR programs throughout the world. We had ten new attendees in our group this year, and everyone returned inspired by many new ideas.

We're hoping to recruit even more participants in the next two years before Minnesota hosts the 2025 LETR International Conference. (Chicago will host the 2023 conference, and in 2024 it will be in San Antonio.) We'll have the conference application ready next year--stay tuned!!

LETR highlight: Matt O'Hara

My name is Matt O’Hara. I am currently assigned as a Detective in our Coordinated Response Team with the Washington County Sheriff’s Office. My current role with Minnesota Law Enforcement Torch Run is Deputy Director of Regions and previously held the Region 13 Coordinator position.

I have been involved with LETR since my first year in law enforcement in 2004 while working in Wisconsin. My first LETR event was fitting as it was the Final Leg with local athletes and the mission where LETR began. We completed our run in town then biked the Flame of Hope 10 miles south to the next city.

Once I moved to the Washington County Sheriff’s Office in 2007 I began expanding my participation to other events such as Tip-A-Cop and the Polar Plunge while still continuing the Final Leg. In 2017 I was fortunate enough to escort the Flame of Hope from Thunder Bay, Canada to St. Paul. I have also participated in Cop on Top events, Unified games with local Special Olympics Minnesota teams and the new Cover a Cruiser fundraiser.

I absolutely love being involved in Torch Run events. I know the money raised goes directly to the Special Olympics athletes in Minnesota and enjoy the moments I get to spend with our athletes. Being involved in Torch Run events is a hidden gem that I think a lot of law enforcement officers are missing out on. Once they participate, they will be hooked.

LETR has also provided me with great opportunities to learn more about the significant bond between Special Olympics and LETR having attended several International Conferences including the honor of being Guardian of the Flame during the International Conference in Denver, Colorado.

Truck Convoy recap

The Truck Convoy is a two-day celebration that helps raise money and awareness for Special Olympics Minnesota athletes. The truckers meet at Running Aces Casino & Racetrack and convoy along a pre-determined route.

This year’s event was another successful year with participants raising $19,776! A big thanks to the numerous agencies who were able to provide law enforcement support. Sending a special shout out to Deputy Jon Mathison from the Anoka County Sheriff’s Office for his leadership with this event.

Community engagement

We always enjoy seeing our law enforcement officers at our events and activities. Whether you’re stopping by to watch and cheer on our athletes, bringing guests to introduce them to SOMN, handing out awards or picking up a volunteer shift, your engagement in our mission is always appreciated!

We have one event coming up at the end of January: Our Regional Metro Poly Hockey competition is January 28-29 at Stillwater High School. If you are interested in volunteering, email Lou Ann at louann.kelly@somn.org.

See all upcoming SOMN events

LETR Executive Council

The Minnesota Law Enforcement Torch Run (LETR) is governed by the Executive Council. This group of dedicated individuals utilizes the enthusiasm, support, and resilience of officers throughout the state of Minnesota in their respective roles to advance the mission of the Law Enforcement Torch Run.

We meet 6 times per year, most often virtually, and help guide Minnesota’s Special Olympics program. For the small amount of time and effort required, the love and respect you will receive from the athletes can be life-changing.

We have a few openings in some of our regions (northwest and southwest Minnesota) and are looking for law enforcement officers to fill those spots. We are also always looking to fill agency liaison roles.

Learn more about the LETR Executive Council

Thank you for your commitment and support!

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