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Special Olympics Athletes bring attention to upcoming games

Randy Gorbman
/
WXXI News

Area law enforcement agencies joined dozens of Special Olympics athletes on Friday for a torch run from Gates Town Hall to Downtown Rochester.

The event raises money for Special Olympics, and that’s something that participants like Kenny Moriarty of Rochester really appreciate.

“It’s incredible, the flames and the running, you’re doing the exercise.” Moriarty also told WXXI News he really appreciates “the sponsors and all the thanks and all the help we get.”

Also running was Gates Town Supervisor Mark Assini. He says just being at an event with these athletes is inspiring.

“They have so much energy and so much passion about what they do, their enthusiasm is contagious; it’s beautiful to participate, beautiful to be next to them and just proud to be able to be able to participate and raise some funding for a great cause.”

Area law enforcement have been joining this torch run for some time now, and Monroe County Undersheriff Drew Forsythe says it is inspiring for them to be able to take part with this kind of positive activity.

“Every day we’re out grinding it with the calls to service and answering calls and always seeing the negative side of the community in many ways and to take time to enjoy what these athletes have to bring it kind of re-energizes you, rejuvenates you and makes you proud of the profession that we’re in.”

It was also announced that the Greater Rochester area will serve as host of the 2018 and 2019 New York State Special Olympics Winter Games. Those games next year will happen in February.

The summer games will take place in Albany later this month

This story was produced by WXXI’s Inclusion Desk, focusing on disabilities and inclusion.

Randy Gorbman is WXXI's director of news and public affairs. Randy manages the day-to-day operations of WXXI News on radio, television, and online.