Father/daughter duo complete Torch Run through Wallace
Shoshone News-Press | UPDATED 8 minutes AGO
Shoshone County Sheriff Shawn Wehr (far left), stands next to Iris Porter, Dale Porter, Lillian Porter, and Jen Porter following the Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics Idaho. Lillian, who runs for a team in Kootenai County, ran with her father, a Shoshone County Deputy, to raise money for the Shoshone team.
Courtesy photo
Members of the Shoshone County law enforcement community recently joined a young athlete earlier this month for a mile-long run through Wallace as part of the Special Olympics Idaho (SOID) Law Enforcement Torch Run.
The Law Enforcement Torch Run is a global relay event in which law enforcement officers and Special Olympics athletes carry the “Flame of Hope” through communities. The run is modeled after the Olympic torch relay, with participants passing the torch from one group to another along a set route that typically leads to the opening ceremony of a Special Olympics competition. This year, SOID’s Summer Games begin May 29 in Nampa.
This year, law enforcement officers from several Shoshone County agencies participated; however, the county’s team does not feature any runners, so Lilly Porter, from the Kootenai County Eagles, stepped in to help.
The run was especially meaningful for Porter, whose father, Dale, works at the Shoshone County Sheriff’s Office and ran with his daughter through Wallace.
"I felt really happy and excited to run with everyone, and the best part was I got to run and hold the torch with my very own daddy,” Lilly said. “I love running, and I can't wait to run again next year."
Porter’s mother, Jen, followed behind the runners in a vehicle from Les Schwab Tires, which she said is another major supporter of SOID. The trailing vehicle carried other Special Olympics athletes, including Shoshone County’s athletes who are not runners, as well as Porter's sister, Iris, allowing them to still participate and travel to the finish line to meet with fellow athletes and members of law enforcement.
“I feel law enforcement plays such an important role in SOID, and it is such an honor to work with law enforcement at SOID events,” Jen said. “I love being a part of SOID because it is life-changing for both the athletes and volunteers.”
The Special Olympics Torch Run raises money through community donations, corporate sponsorships and related fundraising events such as Polar Plunges and Tip-A-Cop activities organized by law enforcement agencies. These efforts support athlete needs, including training, travel, equipment and health services, while also increasing public awareness of the Special Olympics mission.