At Java Moose Sherriff Pat Eliasen posed with the Flame of Hope torch while being flanked by deputy Will Sandstrom and Dave Lane, on Pat’s left. For the second year in a row Thunder Bay, Ontario police carried the torch to the Pigeon River border crossing and after a short ceremony, passed the torch to Cook County law enforcement.
“I know you,” said a young man pointing a finger at me as I was taking his picture in a group.
Putting my camera down I looked up and saw Dave Lane. Dave and I had just come off of Grandma’s Marathon, working together. Dave not only worked, he also ran the Garry Bjorklund half marathon in 1:27, an excellent time for anyone. Rather than rest and recover, here he was in Cook County, running again.
Only this time, Dave was running for a bigger cause.
Monday, June 18, Cook County Law Enforcement personnel joined their counterparts from Thunder Bay at the center of the Grand Portage US Port of Entry Pigeon River borer crossing and passed the Flame of Hope between them.
More than two dozen Ontario police laced up their running shoes and ran carrying the Flame of Hope to support Thunder Bay Special Olympics. They didn’t run alone, but were joined by Special Olympics Thunder Bay athletes and a multi-agency honor guard.
Cook County Sheriff Pat Eliasen and chief deputy Will Sandstrom greeted runners in Grand Marais at Java Moose. There Sheriff Eliasen presented a check for $2,502 raised by a Minnesota sheriff ’s band (Page A-4) he played in that was formed to raise funds for this cause.
Cook County Social Services worker Jeanne Peterson was the local runner coming into Java Moose when the donation was being given out. The goal was for the relay team to end in Tofte in a few hours, with the ultimate goal of the torch making its way to St. Thomas University in St. Paul where the Special summer games would be held starting June 22.
The highlight of the day occured when the flames touched, Canada and the U.S. coming together on the border, the Flame of Hope going from one country to the next and in a spirit of joy and inclusion.
As for Dave Lane, he was first place at the 2014 USA national championship Special Olympics 10k, as well as a member of the first place Minnesota 4×100 meter relay team. The staff at Grandma’s Marathon greatly appreciate Dave’s work ethic and great attitude. He embodies the Special Olympics motto “Let me win, but if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt.”
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