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 seven sports. The sports I participate in are artistic and rhythmic gymnastics, floor hockey, bowling, track and field, bocce ball and alpine skiing.

I have completed many Athlete Leadership classes. Being an ambassador in so many areas and representing Special Olympics is very exciting.

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 Minnesota and offering donations because of the athlete/law officer partnership. I have participated in the Polar Plunge as well which is always a party!

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!!!

Event recap: Final Leg

Thank you to all the members of law enforcement and Special Olympics supporters who participated in the 2023 Law Enforcement Torch Run Final Leg! During the week of June 19–24, more than 100 agencies traveled a total of 800 miles across the great state of Minnesota carrying the Flame of Hope in support of Special Olympics athletes.

The routes cumulated at the Special Olympics Minnesota Summer Games opening ceremony, where law enforcement and athletes lit the cauldron signifying the beginning of the games. This event raised over $38,000 in participation and t-shirt sales.

View photos from the 2023 Law Enforcement Torch Run Final Leg

Upcoming event: Plane Pull

Does your agency have what it takes to pull a 23-ton jet? Come find out on September 9 at MSP!

We're looking for public safety agencies from across Minnesota to test their strength and compete for ultimate bragging rights at the Plane Pull for Special Olympics Minnesota. The Plane Pull is a super fun event where teams compete to see who can pull a 23-ton plane down the MSP runway the fastest!

Join the Public Safety division and compete against the Airport PD, Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office, Apple Valley PD, Apple Valley Fire, South St. Paul PD and more to prove that you are the strongest agency in Minnesota! Fundraising is required to participate and 100% of funds raised support the athletes of Special Olympics Minnesota.

Learn more and register a team at fundraise.somn.org/planepull

Watch this video to learn more about what the Plane Pull is about:

Upcoming event: LETR Golf Tournament

Join us for the annual LETR Golf Tournament for Special Olympics Minnesota! Gather a group of four from your agency for a day of golf, prizes, dinner and fun!

Learn more or register your group for the golf tournament

Tip-A-Cops

Tip-A-Cop fundraisers are a fun and easy way for officers to raise money and interact with their community while supporting local businesses. Officers serve as celebrity waiters at restaurants and donate all the tips they receive to Special Olympics Minnesota.

“Tip-A-Cop events provide agencies with a uniquely wonderful opportunity to engage with the citizens and businesses located withing their community while partnering with Special Olympics Minnesota to simultaneously support their programming and build relationships with athletes! Tip-A-Cop events are easy to plan and execute, and the memories made will stick with you, your law enforcement and athlete partners as well as your communities, for years to come!" ~ Miranda Soldow, BCA Special Agent

If you're interested in organizing a Tip-a-Cop in your community, please reach out to Emma Fiedler at emma.fiedler@somn.org.

LETR highlight: Jim Felt

The Willmar/Spicer Polar Plunge for Special Olympics Minnesota started in 2004 on a whim. We saw that 3 other locations (Duluth, Rochester and White Bear Lake) were doing the events and thought, "That’s crazy—let’s try it here!"

One of our officers and a sheriff’s deputy (now both retired) had children who were Special Olympics athletes.

We thought this would be a great way to support their families and help spread the word about Special Olympics programs.

Within probably minutes of us showing interest, a Special Olympics Minnesota coordinator was setting up a meeting. Before we knew it, we were committed. We were immediately met with public support through the City of Spicer partnering the event with their annual Winterfest. A local restaurant owner by the lake offered their building, and a local radio station went all-in with advertising and being the emcee. Over the past 17 years, the only change has been the building where we hold registration. The partnerships that started the event have enhanced it and made it stronger each year.

Our local event doesn’t happen without amazing teamwork. I serve as the local contact, but it’s all a team effort also coordinated by Willmar PD Captain Mike Anderson (above left, shown plunging) and our WPD Administrative Assistant Sue Edwards (above right, shown post-Plunge). The partnerships we have with local emergency services and businesses help make the annual Willmar/Spicer Plunge a great local event.

We’re very grateful for the great support and friendships we’ve had with many SOMN staff members over the years. 

Community engagement

By volunteering with the Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics Minnesota, law enforcement participants champion acceptance and inclusion of individuals with intellectual disabilities. They help educate their communities about the gifts, talents and abilities of people with intellectual disabilities and create opportunities to bring everyone together.

Visit the links below to sign up or for more information.

Monday, August 14 - Golf event - Stillwater

August 18-20 - Bocce & softball competitions - Woodbury

Sunday, August 27 - Golf competition - Oakdale

Saturday, September 9 - Plane Pull - MSP Airport

Saturday, September 16 - Flag football competition - Cohasset

September 16-17 - Flag football competition - West St. Paul

Law enforcement are not limited to these volunteer roles! If you are interested in volunteering in other ways, such as athlete staging, timing, etc., please reach out to torchrun@somn.org.

Check out our LETR website! 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 our website at somn.org/letr or contact Kean Corkery at kean.corkery@somn.org.