By Jennifer Hoegg
Police Chief Mark Mander will be going for a run this month, but not to chase a criminal.
Kentville’s top cop is the Nova Scotian representative on the Law Enforcement Torch Run for the Canada’s winter Special Olympics in Alberta this month.
“I was very honoured to be chosen,” he said.
The games take place Feb. 28 to March 3. The torch run begins Feb. 26, and covers 358 km over three days.
“My goal is to run at least 10 to 15 km a day,” Mander said, in advance of the Jasper to St. Albert journey.
After running with other police volunteers and athletes, Mander plans to stay at the Games until Feb. 29 and said he hopes to help hand out medals.
“We, as an agency, have been in involved in Special Olympics,” Mander said of Kentville police’s dedication to the cause.
The torch run is also the charity of choice of the Nova Scotia Chiefs of Police Association, which Mander currently leads.
It is obvious Mander has a personal affection for the cause. Three Special Olympians live across the street from his home and Mander keeps a photo of the trio in his office.
The Law Enforcement Torch Run’s provincial director Helen Burns said Mander was chosen “based on years of giving volunteer hours and commitment to the law enforcement and Special Olympic athletes.
“Mark has been a steadfast volunteer and supporter of Special Olympics for many years,” she added. “This is a wonderful opportunity for him to take part in the torch run supporting those opportunities for our athletes.
“We are the guardians of the flame,” Burns said of the run. “We are entrusted with the task of bringing the flame … to officially open the Games.”
Burns said the runners won’t be striding the hundreds of kilometers, but will travel part of the way by bus or other vehicle and running in “high-profile, visible areas.”
“Our main purpose of the torch run is to bring attention to Special Olympians and (how) law enforcement people are supporting the athletes.”
The chief is looking forward to the event.
“It’s an honour – it only comes by once in a lifetime.”
Weblink
http://www.specialolympics.org/letr.aspx
Never too late
Mark Mander began running two years ago when he was in “a health and fitness rut.
“I made all kinds of excuses to myself as to why I could not make a change,” Mander said. “Or, as most of us would say, ‘I will start tomorrow’ and tomorrow never came.”
When aching knees, breathlessness and the need for larger clothes presented the police chief with warning signs, he said he saw himself on the road to poor health. “Once you finally realize that alternative, the only option is to make some significant changes for the better,” he said.
To train for the Alberta torch run, Mander has been running up to 50 km a week, some of it with a friend training for the Boston Marathon.
What is the Law Enforcement Torch Run?
– An international project of law enforcement services
– Raises money and awareness of Special Olympic athletes.
– Provides torch runs for provincial, state, national and world Games
– Began in Kansas, USA, in 1981
– Came to Canada in 1985
