Author: Ali Phaneuf On October 11th Special Olympics Pennsylvania athlete Ernie Roundtree will be racing in the 125th Boston Marathon. Why? Because it’s been a lifelong dream of his. How? Because of one special game changer: retired Mansfield police Sgt. and Special Olympics Massachusetts’ Law Enforcement Torch Run (LETR) executive board member, Larry Crosman. When Larry attended the 2018 Special Olympics USA Games in Washington State, he had no idea that the experience would bring him a lifelong friend. Larry was an escort for the Flame of Hope at the USA Games when he met Ernie, and it was…

Richard Pierce Awarded the John Carion ‘Unsung Hero’ Award for 30 Years of Dedication to Special Olympics Massachusetts  On Tuesday, December 1, 2020, Retired Attleboro Police Chief Richard ‘Rick’ Pierce was awarded the 2020 John Carion ‘Unsung Hero’ Award by the Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics International Executive Council. The John Carion Award was established in 1997 to honor the memory of Sergeant John Carion from the Sterling Heights Police Department in Michigan, USA, and serves to recognize outstanding individuals who have contributed to the success of the Law Enforcement Torch Run on a local, state or community level.  Chief Pierce has been involved with Special Olympics Massachusetts…

Meet the top fundraiser from the past few years of the Peabody Holiday Torch Run. Jeremy “Jay” Carlo has been actively involved in the Special Olympics for three and a half decades.  He began in Worcester at age 10, competing in Track and Field events like the softball throw and running events but it was when, as a student at the Mercy Center, he joined the Special Olympics basketball team and his love of the Special Olympics blossomed.  Being a part of a team, practicing and competing together, is where Jay’s spirit shines brightest.  He loves cheering teammates on…

Join us for the only Super Plunge in Massachusetts! Do you think you can plunge 24 times in 24 hours?! Join us for Berkshire County’s only Polar Plunge to find out. What’s so unique about this Plunge? Pittsfield Police Department hosts this one of a kind event for Special Olympics Massachusetts! On Saturday, Super Plungers will start their challenge of 24 plunges in 24 hours. On Sunday morning, more Plungers will join the Super Plungers for their final plunge. All of these Plunges happen right in a man-made pool at Bousquet Ski Area. Will you Plunge 24 times or…

Hello, I’m Gregg and I am very excited to be part of your plunge today in support of Special Olympics. Special Olympics Massachusetts offers 23 amazing sports over 4 seasons, as an athlete I compete in four of those: Alpine skiing in the winter, volleyball in the spring, softball in the summer and soccer in the fall. I would love to be able to play every sport…..but let’s be honest, I’m not superman.  For over 50 years Special Olympics has included and given the opportunities to many of my fellow athletes that they have never dreamed of. Through the…

Join us for this fun annual plunge in a new location! Plunge into Lakeville’s Clear Pond Park at the 2020 Lakeville Polar Plunge, formerly the New Bedford Polar Plunge! What’s so unique about this Plunge? The Lakeville Polar Plunge brings the entire community together to Plunge into Clear Pond! Put together by Greater New Bedford Special Olympics and Lakeville Police Union, it is a region-wide event! This Plunge is growing rapidly and you can help us make it even bigger at this new location. Come hang out with law enforcement, enjoy local food, and support athletes! Want to show…

Join us for this FIRST TIME plunge! That’s right we have a brand new Polar Plunge in 2020 and want you to be the a part of the inaugural group of plungers! What’s so unique about this Plunge? The Harwich Polar Plunge is among our NEWEST Plunges! We’ve had so much fun all over the state and now we’re bringing that fun to the Cape! Law Enforcement from across the Cape will be participating and so can you! Want to show us how brrrrave you are? Be Bold. Get Cold. This winter during the March 14th Harwich Polar Plunge! Register…

LETR Year in Review for 2019 By: LETR Executive Council Co-Director, Chief Rick Pierce (Retired) Greetings, Another very successful year for the Massachusetts Law Enforcement Torch Run program is about to come to an end. Our 2019 LETR activities and events will set another fundraising goal as we continue to raise funds and awareness for our Special Olympic Athletes in Massachusetts. Our 2019 fundraising projected total is $736,000! Once again, in 2019 we have seen new members and departments join our LETR team as we continue to expand and grow our program. LETR Executive Co-Director Chief Jim DiGianvittorio and…

Join us for this annual plunge that is a fan favorite! What’s so unique about this Plunge? The Sharon Polar Plunge will bring you back to your glory days, as it takes place right at Sharon High School! Plungers register in the gymnasium, take a stroll to the lake, plunge, & come back to the gym to warm up and get some awards! With Special Olympics Massachusetts Hall of Famer, Sgt. Larry Crosman, at the helm of this Plunge, it is sure to be fun. Want to show us how brrrrave you are? Be Bold. Get Cold. This winter…

Join us for a Plunge that is very close to home – or should we say close to work- for our Special Olympics Massachusetts staff. This plunge takes place right in our parking lot on Forest Street in Marlborough. What makes it unique? In Marlborough we don’t jump into a lake or ocean, we jump out of a moving truck (parked of course) and into a pool of ice cold water. Plungers then come inside to get warm and enjoy food and awards inside our office at the Yawkey Sports Training Center. This plunge is hosted by the Marlborough…