Sidney torch run for Special Olympics Nebraska set for May 18

Registration is underway for the Sidney Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics Nebraska, which is set for Wednesday, May 18, beginning at 10 a.m.

“We do this run to raise awareness and donations towards the special olympics,” Sidney Police Lt. Keith Andrew said. “It’s a great cause.”

Andrew said the Sidney Police Department has hosted the torch run for “a number of years,” and has brought out a good average of people to participate annually.

“We’ve had close to 50 at times,” he said. “And law enforcement from the Sheriff’s office and the state patrol come out and participated as well.”

In the torch run, participants will follow an active member of law enforcement carrying a torch across the town. Andrew said who the torch bearer is comes down to one thing: fatigue.

“We switch out,” he said. “Because you run (holding up a torch) for a little while, it takes its toll on you.”

In the past, Andrew said the run had been run from Dalton to Gurley to Sidney and beyond.

“But it was too taxing on us, so now we just go through Sidney,” he said.

The torch run will begin next to the McDonald’s restaurant on Old Post Rd. to 11th Ave., then head south to Illinois St. before turning left and heading to the goal at the Cheyenne County fairgrounds. In total, Andrews said the run is about 4.5 miles.

“It’s an easy pace and all downhill,” Andrew said. “And we welcome people who don’t, or can’t, run to ride bikes with us.”

Andrews said anyone needing transportation to the starting point for the torch run should arrive at the police department by 9:30 a.m. He said if people do not want to go the entire length of the run, they can also drop in and drop out.

“That’s okay,” he said. “We don’t care about that.”

Andrew said the participants will have a police escort throughout the torch run.

“We want to make sure that everybody is safe,” he said. “And we have a fire truck that will be our ‘chase vehicle.’ So if anybody gets tired, they can drop back and get water.”

There is a $15 fee to participate in the run, which includes a t-shirt, and each runner must also sign a waiver. Cash, check and credit cards are all accepted, Andrew said.

Anyone interested in registering can visit the Sidney Police Department, located at 1715 Illinois St. or call Lt. Keith Andrew at (308) 254-7846.

“It’s fun,” Andrew said. “People will have a good time.”