Special Olympics Wisconsin (SOWI) held the 9th Annual World’s Largest Truck Convoy® presented by Quad/Graphics on Saturday, September 21st to raise money for our nearly 10,000 athletes across the state. Truck drivers, athletes, volunteers and law enforcement officials dedicated an early morning drive from Richfield to Oshkosh, successfully raising more than $91,000 at this Law Enforcement Torch Run® (LETR) event. As sun began to rise, drivers began to arrive. They were greeted by athletes as they registered their trucks and had the opportunity to meet celebrity guest Edgar Hansen of Discovery Channel’s Deadliest Catch, sponsored by E.H. Wolf & Sons, Convoy Platinum Partner.
Special Olympics Wisconsin athlete Tyler Derringer emceed the kick-off event, and introduced 2013 Convoy Marshal Becky Burkee, SOWI athlete from West Allis, who welcomed the drivers to the event. A live auction followed, where generous bidders raised $10,600 for the athletes! The lead-bidding trucks represented Independent Operator, Inc., Laufer Trucking, Osborn & Son Trucking and YRC while drivers from Quad/Graphics and Blue Leasing won bids to escort Edgar Hansen and Corianne Strupp, Miss Collegiate Wisconsin America 2013.
The Wisconsin State Patrol did a phenomenal job directing traffic as the 136 participating trucks, led by Quad/Graphics, traveled the 53 miles along highway 41 from Richfield to the EAA in Oshkosh. Overpasses were packed with supporters holding signs to cheer on the drivers and rows of enthusiastic athletes, along with their families, shouted words of encouragement as the trucks pulled into the Experimental Aircraft Association grounds. Lunch followed and participants were recognized at a celebration party. Corianne Strupp emceed the event and presented the drivers with awards, sponsored by the Waupun Truck-N-Show, Founding Partner of the Convoy.
Ted Poelking of T & B Poelking Logistics traveled all the way from Orlando, Florida and received a trophy for Truck that Traveled the Farthest out of State; Pat Arnette of Walmart Transportation received the Truck that Traveled the Farthest within Wisconsin trophy coming from Menomonie, Wisconsin. Special Olympics athletes worked together to pick their top three favorite trucks: 3rd place went to Chuck Karnitz of Quad/Graphics; 2nd place went to Ron and Nita Mathieson of Badger Utility who also received the Officer’s Choice Award, voted by Law Enforcement Officials and Truck Driver with the Most Pledges Raised, raising more than $7,500; and 1st place went to Kenny and Betty Klopotek of Ashley Furniture.
2013 marks the 27th annual Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics Wisconsin, a movement among law enforcement which has raised over $21 million since 1986 while spreading awareness and helping reveal the champion in individuals with intellectual disabilities. More than $697,000 of that total has been raised through the World’s Largest Truck Convoy since it’s inception in 2005!
Local law enforcement continue to show their support by playing a crucial role closing ramps and monitoring traffic during the Convoy. Thank you to the following departments for their dedication and assistance throughout the event: Wisconsin State Patrol, Slinger Police Department, Waupun Police Department, Lomira Police Department, Fond du Lac County Sherriff’s Office, Fond du Lac Police Department, North Fond du Lac Police Department, Dodge County Sherriff’s Office, Winnebago County Sherriff’s Office, Wisconsin Department of Transportation and Oshkosh Auxiliary Officers.
“Words cannot describe how it feels to pull into the EAA and see all the athletes waving their signs. Just knowing I might make a little difference in someone’s life keeps me coming back year after year,” said John Drake, Fleet Manager at Duplainville Transport/Quad/Graphics who has been involved in the event since the beginning and was instrumental in starting the event here in Wisconsin.
Special Olympics Wisconsin would like to thank all event partners, including presenting partner Quad/Graphics, founding partners Waupun Truck-N-Show and the Wisconsin Motor Carriers Association, participants and state committee members who help make this event such a success.
Please join us next year for the 10th Anniversary of the World’s Largest Truck Convoy for Special Olympics Wisconsin on Saturday, September 20, 2014. For more information or to view photos of the Convoy, visit SpecialOlympicsWisconsin.org or call (800) 552-1324.
