Special Olympics Wisconsin

Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics Wisconsin Honored with International Awards

During the last week of October, 25 officers, staff, sponsors and volunteers involved in the Law Enforcement Torch Run (LETR) for Special Olympics Wisconsin traveled to Dallas for the 2008 International LETR Conference. At the conference our LETR program was awarded the Diamond Level of Excellence award for raising more than $1 million in 2008 with Wisconsin’s LETR Program setting a new fundraising record by raising more than $1.5 million!

Director of Development for the LETR, Julie Buedding, also received the LETR’s highest honor, The Richard LaMunyon Hall of Fame award. The Richard LaMunyon Law Enforcement Torch Run® for Special Olympics Hall of Fame was created to recognize outstanding individuals who have significantly contributed to the worldwide success of the LETR.

Julie has been involved with the Torch Run for 13 years and also was the first non-law enforcement member inducted into the Wisconsin LETR Dale Brunner Hall of Fame. In 2007, Julie traveled to China as a member of the LETR Final Leg Support Team for the Special Olympics World Summer Games. Thanks to her enormous efforts, hard work and dedication, Wisconsin’s 2008 World’s Largest Truck Convoy® fundraiser was truly the world’s largest raising more than $100,000!

The LETR is the largest grassroots fundraiser and public awareness vehicle in the world for Special Olympics. Law enforcement officers from the 50 United States, 10 Canadian provinces and territories and 35 countries carry the “Flame of Hope” in honor of Special Olympics athletes. Congratulations to Julie and the LETR for Special Olympics Wisconsin!