BETTENDORF, Iowa — The Bettendorf Police Department honored Special Olympic athletes with a torch run on Monday, May 20. Approximately 25 officers accompanied by friends and family carried the Special Olympics Flame of Hope for six miles to raise money and awareness for the cause. The run started at the department in Bettendorf and ended at Rookie’s Sports Bar on Brady Street in Davenport.
The long-running tradition started in Iowa in 1987, and Bettendorf has been participating for over 30 years. In 2019, the state of Iowa had over a thousand officers involved and raised over $1 million for Iowa’s Special Olympic Athletes.
Sergeant Andrew Harris said that the run is a special occasion for him. “It’s probably the most meaningful thing I do as a police officer is to celebrate our athletes here in Scott County," Harris said. He also said that the athletes “inspire us as law enforcement officers to always do our best.”
Rolla Lucas, a former Special Olympian shared that the run, “promotes physical fitness as well as camaraderie between people with disabilities and people without disabilities.” Lucas started as an athlete back in junior high. He can no longer participate due to an injury, but that didn’t stop him from coming to show his love and support for the cause.
If you’re not a runner, that’s okay; there are other ways to show your support for Special Olympics. The Bettendorf Police Department holds various fundraisers like the Tip-a-Cop and Cop on Rooftop. No matter how you choose to show your support all of the fundraisers have the same goal—to raise money and awareness for Special Olympic athletes.
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