Law Enforcement Torch Run Began Yesterday

The Jamaica Constabulary Force’s (JCF) Law Enforcement Torch Run, which aims to raise $2 million to assist Jamaican athletes participating in the Special Olympic Games, got underway yesterday (May 16) in Ocho Rios, St. Ann.
Superintendent Martin Bayliss of the Mandeville Police Division explained that the Police Commissioner or his deputy will start today’s run and hand the torch over to the commanding officer for the parish, who will continue the run to the border of Trelawny.
The torch will be taken across the island’s 14 parishes over a two-week period, with participating police officers collecting donations from members of the public along the way.
“We will terminate the run on the last day of our national sports day, which will be held at Elletson Road on May 26, where we hand over the torch to the Commissioner of Police, Lucius Thomas.”
The Superintendent said he is looking forward to participating in the event and supporting the special athletes. “I will be running. Yes! I am always excited about it because if you have gone to one of those games, when you see those people participate, is not the question of winning, because everybody is a winner; it is the enjoyment that they get in doing it. It makes you feel good to know that people with full, healthy bodies and limbs sometimes cannot perform and do what they do,” he noted.
At the recent launch of the torch run, Executive Director of Special Olympics Jamaica, Lorna Bell praised the JCF’s fundraising effort and encouraged other entities to support the Torch Run.
“I encourage you to get involved with a group of persons working hard to make a difference in the lives of persons with intellectual disabilities,” she said.In addition to the torch run, the JCF will be staging fundraising concerts and soliciting contributions from its members.