NORWICH – Saturday at 2 p.m., members of law enforcement along with their friends and family members will embark on the annual Law Enforcement Torch Run (LETR) for the Special Olympics in memory of the late Ed Ulfik III.
The LETR has been held across the country on a yearly basis since 1981. Norwich’s run will be 1.5 miles, beginning at the Norwich Police Department and ending at Evolve Fitness (AIM Fitness) at 6142 State Hwy 12 in Norwich.
Senior Diver of the State Police Troop C and the Southern Tier Regional Direction of the LETR said, “The Torch Runs across the country are held just prior to the Special Olympic Summer Games, which are being held this year at the College of Brockport in Rochester on June 5 and 6.”
In addition to the run itself, there will be a first ever Family Fun Fitness Day.
The run this year is in memory of the late Ed Ulfik.
Edward J. Ulfik III, of Oxford, passed away on March 31, 2014. Ed was a 1st Lieutenant in the Oxford Fire Department and Emergency Squad . He was also a member of the Chenango Ambulance Co. where he was also a lieutenant. He was a former public safety dispatcher for the Chenango County Sheriff's Office. He served the Town of New Berlin Police Department for more than five years and most recently the Village of Oxford Police Department for the past seven years.
“In the unfortunate event of a local officer passing, the LETR will dedicate different legs in memory of that officer,” said Case. “When I decided to add the Family Fitness Fun Day to the Torch Run, I stopped at Evolve Fitness (formerly AIM Fitness) to ask them if we could use their parking lot. It was then that I learned that Ed's family members were actually in the process of buying the gym. I was friends with Ed, and actually went to the Otsego County Law Enforcement Academy with him in 2006 while I worked for the Cooperstown Police Department. When I became a Trooper and was stationed in Norwich, I worked with Ed on a regular basis. I believe it was fate that I stopped and talked with them.”
Case added that along with law enforcement, family, and friends, there will be local Special Olympic athletes both at the run and the event following the run.
Case said the main concept of the LETR is to raise awareness and funds for the Special Olympics. Participants purchased a shirt in order to run. “All proceeds from the Torch Run shirt sales and the Family Fitness Fun Day go to Special Olympics New York, who in turn pays for all of the athletes throughout the state to compete in competitions,” said Case. “The athletes and their families are not responsible for paying anything to compete.”
