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the Lockport Legend | June 21, 2018 | 5
Lockport law enforcement carries the torch
Special Olympics
Illinois Torch Run
makes its way
through Lockport
Mary Compton
Freelance Reporter
Hitting the pavement running
has never been a problem
for Lockport police officer
Debbie Schenk.
So, when the Law Enforcement
Torch Run for
Special Olympics Illinois
asked her to coordinate
Leg 5 of the event on June
12, Schenk stepped up and
didn’t look back.
“I have been involved in
coordinating the local torch
run for the past four or five
years,” Schenk said.
Besides the run, Schenk
has also participated in Super
Plunge, Cop on a Rooftop,
Five-O at the Dirty O,
Trivia Night and many more
fundraising events.
On June 12, a group of Illinois
State Troopers from
District 5 in Lockport came
out to run south along Route
53.
DeAnn Falat, trooper with
the Illinois State Police and
lifelong Lockport resident,
had an opportunity to carry
the torch.
“I’ve taken part in Special
Olympics for 13 years,”
Falat said. “Our troopers run
as well as other police departments
around us. We run
two days. We really support
this. We go out of our way to
help out whenever we can.
Special Olympics is at the
top of our list. The kids are
our future; we do everything
we can to help them out.”
According to the Special
Olympics website, the need
for services is great as the
organization estimates Special
Olympics Illinois is
currently serving about 10
percent of those eligible to
participate. Individual donors
account for 65 percent
of the donations, so they
rely on the public to ensure
they can continue reaching
out to more of those in need.
Special Olympian Rikki
Kirsch, who is the Athlete
Liasion on the Law Enforcement
Torch Run for the
State of Illinois, stopped by
to take part. Her mom, Chris
Kirsch from Shorewood,
said the event is special for
the whole family.
“This year is her fifth year
participating in the Torch
Run at different locations,”
Chris Kirsch said. “A lot of
police departments contact
her to come out and speak.
She’s collected a lot of
patches and pins from these
departments as well as hats
and coins.
“The whole family is involved
with Special Olympics.
Special Olympics is
somewhere for Rikki to be
Rikki, [and] to show the
world it’s about what she
can do, not what she can’t
do.”
Greg Wietting, who used
to work at Stateville, continues
to take part because of
people like Rikki.
“I’ve taken part in Special
Olympics for nine years,”
he said. “I’ll keep helping as
long as I can.”
Besides Special Olympians
like Rikki, Officer
Schenk has another reason
to raise funds.
“I have a brother, John
who has been participating
in Special Olympics since
the 1970s,” Schenk said.
“My mom passed away in
2016. When my brother told
his teammates at softball his
mother passed away, they
all came over to hug him,
then the other team cleared
the bench and hugged him
as well. Special Olympics
gives John an opportunity to
socialize and be himself.”
To make a donation to
Special Olympics Illinois
online, visit www.soill.org.
Those wishing to donate can
also drop off checks made
payable to Law Enforcement
Torch Run for Special
Olympics to their local
police department, Schenk
said.
Good Hands ®
Within
arm’s reach.
Claudia Gamache, CPCU
815-834-2700
16614 W. 159th St., #320
Lockport
agents.allstate.com/cgamache3
Subject to terms, conditions and availability. © 2018 Allstate Insurance Co.
242803
Greg Wietting carries the torch June 12 while running along Route 53 with the Illinois State
Troopers during the Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics Illinois.
Mary Compton/22nd Century Media