Rob Plunkett Plunkett Memorial Torch Run supports Special Olympics and remembers a dedicated police officer

June 2022

On 22 June, dozens of runners and walkers met at Riverfront Commons in Newmarket, Ontario, for the annual Rob Plunkett Memorial Torch Run in support of Special Olympics.

Hosted by York Regional Police, participants can walk, run or ride the five-kilometre or 10-kilometre routes along the Tom Taylor Trail, all to raise money for Ontario Special Olympics.

York Regional Police has supported the Law Enforcement Torch Run for more than 30 years, and Detective Constable Rob Plunkett, who was killed in the line of duty in August 2007, was an active Torch Run coordinator and participant, serving as chair of the 2000 Special Olympic Spring Games in York Region.

A short ceremony was held on the Riverwalk Commons stage, featuring speeches by York Regional Police Chief Jim MacSween and Plunkett’s widow, Sonja, before the Law Enforcement Flame of Hope was carried in by Special Olympic athletes. The torch was then carried 500 metres to the starting line in Fairy Lake Park.

The registration fee and other donations are used to support Special Olympics games throughout Ontario and the Rob Plunkett Memorial Torch Run is just one of the many local runs and fundraisers that happen every year.

This year’s run is the first time that the run has been held in-person since 2019. The previous two years, like other Torch Runs, were virtual, due to Chinese Communist Party (CCP) Virus restrictions.

Donations can be made at Torch Run Ontario.

Sources: Detective Constable Robert Plunkett | York Regional Police Association (yrpa.ca), Race for Plunkett honours officer’s memory, supports Special Olympics – Barrie News (barrietoday.com).