Athlete highlight: Lucy Haugland | |
My name is Lucy Haugland. I am a Special Olympics athlete with an intellectual disability. I am 25 years old. I have been involved in Special Olympics Minnesota for 17 years and it means the world to me! I love the friendships, building new skills, supporting one another and competing in 7 sports. The sports I participate in are artistic and rhythmic gymnastics, floor hockey, bowling, track and field, bocce and alpine skiing. | |
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I have completed many Athlete Leadership classes. Being an ambassador in so many areas and representing Special Olympics is very exciting. | | |
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I completed the LETR Ambassador class in 2021. I have really enjoyed working with law enforcement officers at Tip-A-Cop events in my hometown of Plymouth. Customers were really receptive to learning about Special Olympics and offering donations because of the athlete/law officer partnership.
I've participated in the Polar Plunge as well which is always a party!
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It is always special to be presented with an award for my hard work from YOU (law enforcement officers) at the state games. I really think it is amazing that law enforcement officers donate their time in so many ways, supporting Special Olympics Minnesota athletes all across our state. As a new LETR Ambassador, I say THANK YOU!!! | |
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Event recap: Plane Pull
Plane Pull was held on September 9 at the Endeavor Air Rubb Hangar at MSP airport This year’s event raised nearly $67,000 for Special Olympics Minnesota, and 40 teams came out to participate (that’s $27,000 and 16 more teams than last year)!
The Public Safety Division was made up of teams from Metro Transit PD, Apple Valley PD, Airport PD, St. Paul PD, Airport ECC, Apple Valley FD and MAC Fire. Airport ECC was the champion team this year with a pull time of 9.15 seconds.
We’d love to have your agency compete next year! Save the date for September 5, 2024.
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Event recap: LETR Golf Tournament
The annual LETR Golf Tournament was held at Oak Marsh Golf Course on Thursday, September 7. It was a beautiful day on the course, and participants raised over $30,000! Thank you to everyone who came out to golf and/or sponsored this event.
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Event recap: Tip-A-Cops
Shakopee
In September, Shakopee Police Department "served" lunch at Texas Roadhouse for a free-will donation that 100% benefited Special Olympics Minnesota. Again, there was great officer attendance and athletes from the Tri-County Chargers. There was lots of food, laughing and even a little line dancing!
Duluth
The Duluth Police Department and surrounding agencies hosted a Tip-A-Cop at Texas Roadhouse last month. Despite the bad weather, they had great officer and athlete attendance to help "serve" diners and collect donations. The management at Texas Roadhouse was so welcoming, and they hope to make it an annual event!
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Upcoming event: Tip-A-Cop
Friday, October 13 | 4-7 PM
Buffalo Wild Wings, Apple Valley
Join us at Buffalo Wild Wings from 4-7 PM in Apple Valley to be "served" by members of the Apple Valley Police Department. For more details, visit the Facebook event.
Officers serve as celebrity waiters at restaurants and donate all the tips they receive to Special Olympics Minnesota. Tip-A-Cop fundraisers are a fun and easy way for officers to raise money and interact with their community while supporting local businesses.
If you're interested in organizing a Tip-a-Cop in your community, please reach out to Emma Fiedler at emma.fiedler@somn.org.
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Upcoming event: Topgolf Tip-A-Cop
October 27-28 | 10 AM-10 PM
Topgolf, Brooklyn Center
Help spread the word of inclusion and raise money for Special Olympics Minnesota! Sign up to participate in the first ever Topgolf Tip-A-Cop, a 2-day event hosted on Friday, October 27, and Saturday, October 28.
Law enforcement volunteer shifts are broken into 2-hour increments between the hours of 10 AM-10 PM each day of the event.
Questions? Please contact Emma Fiedler at emma.fiedler@somn.org or 763.270.7140.
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LETR highlight: Orin Christensen | |
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In 2002, I ran my first Law Enforcement Torch Run Final Leg, from Menasha, WI, to Stevens Point, WI—a total of 66 miles shared by approximately ten runners. At the time I was a Community Service Officer and just beginning my journey into law enforcement. I remember my legs hurting and my body aching because I failed to prepare myself for this event.
After reaching our destination, we got dressed in our uniforms and went to the stadium, and all law enforcement personnel formed a gauntlet leading into the stadium. We stood there for an hour while the athletes were being introduced, and as they made their way through the assembly of law enforcement officers, I must have received over 200 of the most powerful high fives I have ever gotten. The energy was outstanding.
Now, not only did my legs hurt and my body ache, but my hands were also numb. It didn’t matter, though: My body was full of adrenaline and hope. I knew that I was there for a purpose, realizing the impact law enforcement had on these athletes.
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I participated in several other Torch Run and Polar Plunge events while employed as a police officer in Wisconsin. I moved to Minnesota in 2012 and was hired with the Blaine Police Department. While loosely participating in the annual Torch Run, Polar Plunge and Truck Convoy, I always wanted to do more but wasn’t sure how to get involved.
In 2018, Officer Steve Nanney, a Blaine Police Officer and the liaison for the Blaine Police Department and Special Olympics Minnesota, was killed in a motorcycle accident. Knowing the impact Officer Nanney had within Special Olympics and what I felt 16 years prior to that at my first Special Olympics event, I became the new liaison for the Blaine Police Department and worked at growing our department’s participation.
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When attending a Special Olympics Minnesota event, you cannot help but be in a good mood. The enthusiasm of inclusion, the bravery it takes to try your hardest and perform in front of thousands of people, and the perseverance of never giving up is contagious. These athletes possess values I try to live by every day—but I do not do it nearly as well as they do. | |
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LETR gives me the opportunity to join other law enforcement personnel and raise money for a great cause. Seeing the athletes smile and fight through some of their biggest fears and challenges is my reason to continue doing what I do within our PD and as an At-Large Member of the Special Olympics Executive Council.
We have exciting news: For the first time, the city of Blaine will host the 2024 Anoka County Polar Plunge! We're looking forward to making the Plunge a successful event in its inaugural year.
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Check out our LETR webpage! We have information on all our LETR events, new recruitment presentations and handouts, information about open positions on our Executive Council and much more. To get further involved with the Law Enforcement Torch Run, visit somn.org/letr or contact Kean Corkery at kean.corkery@somn.org. | |
Thank you for your commitment and support! | | | | |
