Annual Torch Run to be held this Saturday

• News Home
• More from News of the North

Wednesday, May 17, 2023 at 11:07 PM

• Share on Facebook
• Share on Messenger
• Share on Messenger
• Share on Twitter
• Share on Whatsapp

Fu Bao Hartle at the Special Olympics Torch Run in 2022. (Photo courtesy of Clare Pavia)

Juneau, Alaska (KINY) - This year the Alaska Law Enforcement Torch Run (AK-LETR) and Pledge Drive will take place simultaneously in 14 communities across the state, beginning at 10 a.m. on Saturday, May 20.

Fu Bao Hartle is a Special Olympic athlete. He joined Capital Chat with his mom, Clare Pavia, to talk about a special event this Saturday.

Alaska Law Enforcement Officers and Special Olympics Alaska community volunteers and athletes will lead a 5K Run/Walk in the following communities: Anchorage, Craig, Delta Junction, Fairbanks, Homer, Juneau, Kenai, Ketchikan, Kodiak, Mat-Su Valley (Palmer/Wasilla), Nome, Seward, Sitka, and Valdez.

It is expected, once again, to be the largest simultaneous multi-community running event held in Alaska this year.

The Juneau event will start at Twin Lakes Shelter at 10:00 am with registration starting at 9:30.

The goal for 2023 is to raise more than $120,000 in pledges for Special Olympics Alaska communities and to have more than 1000 participants, which will include hundreds of Alaska Law Enforcement personnel.

All of the funds raised through the pledge drive will stay in each accredited local community to support Special Olympics Alaska athletes.

The Torch Run has been occurring for over 20 years in both Juneau and nationwide.

"You may not know, but this past February I went down to D.C. for Capitol Hill. It's a nationwide movement called Capitol Hill in D.C.," Hartle shared.

"He met with our Senators and staff from a representative to advocate for Special Olympics. Fu Bao was the athlete that was chosen to represent Alaska," Pavia said. "We met other athletes, and folks from across the nation."

Not only does Hartle represent Special Olympics for Alaska, but he is also a health messenger.

"How to be a spokesperson...that is one of my bigger, biggest goals, to be able to be on the radio like today. Be able to tell everybody in the community what's happening around town," Hartle said. "As a health messenger, I've been an advocate too for people who can't advocate for themselves."

Another impact Special Olympics has had on Hartle is meeting new friends. During the pandemic, he was able to meet with other athletes through Zoom.

Pavia added that they are always looking for more participation.

"If you know someone, or you yourself think you want to do some Special Olympics, in the summertime there's basketball and swimming, and in the fall, there's bowling," she said. "Always looking for volunteers, coaches, and athletes."

For more information, visit specialolympicsalaska.org.

Hartle hopes to see a good turnout this Saturday rain or shine.

More from News of the North

• Last-minute Anan Wildlife Observatory permits available at the end of June

  Wrangell, Alaska (KINY) - Visitors will soon be able to submit requests for the last four daily permits to Anan Wildlife Observatory, which are meant to accommodate last-minute planning and need to be requested in person at the Wrangell Ranger District, up to one week in advance

• Alaska Delegation frustrated by interior’s delay of the Ambler Access Project

  Anchorage, Alaska (KINY) - U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan (both R-Alaska) and U.S. Representative Mary Sattler Peltola (D-Alaska), today released the following joint statement after the Department of the Interior (DOI) announced an up to six-month delay for the finalization of the Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) and Record of Decision (ROD) for the proposed Ambler Access Project (AAP).

• Dozens evacuated from small cruise ship in Alaska after engine room fire

  Juneau, Alaska (AP) — A fire in the engine room of a small cruise ship in Alaska’s Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve prompted the evacuation of dozens of passengers and crew on Monday. No injuries were reported, and the fire was extinguished, the U.S. Coast Guard said.

• CCFR on scene on Fritz Cove Road fire

  Juneau, Alaska (KINY) - CCFR responded to a fire toward the end of Fritz Cove Road at 2:31 AM.

• Murkowski leads bill to invest in blue cconomy, spark innovations in coastal communities

  Anchorage, Alaska (KINY) - U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Maria Cantwell (D-WA) and Representatives María Elvira Salazar (R-FL-27) and Chellie Pingree (D-ME-1) introduced the bipartisan, bicameral Ocean Regional Opportunity and Innovation Act (Ocean ROI Act), legislation that would require the Secretary of Commerce to establish a federal strategy for investing in the nation’s ocean-based economy with “Ocean Innovation Clusters” (ocean clusters).

• Water & Sewer Utility Rates To Increase July 1

  Juneau, Alaska (KINY) - CBJ wants to remind citizens that there will be a utility rate increase effective July 1. The City and Borough of Juneau Assembly, in August of 2019, approved increases to both the water and sewer utility rates. The 2% rate increase will go into effect July 1.

• Comments exceed 100 in effort to shape future of integrated forest management on the Tongass

  Ketchikan, Alaska (KINY) - A public outreach designed to compile as much local input as possible to shape the future of integrated forest management on the Tongass National Forest is proving to be successful and there is still plenty of time to comment.

• Sitka Salmon Derby comes to a close

  Sitka, Alaska (KINY) - Yesterday, saw the 68th Sitka Salmon Derby come to a close. News of the North has the scores

• Brett Gilbert sentenced for 2017 hatchet murder

  Fairbanks, Alaska (KINY) - Fairbanks Superior Court Judge Paul Lyle sentenced 55-year-old Brett Gilbert to 75 years in prison for the murder of Mark Mitchell on July 30, 2017. Gilbert was convicted by a jury of murder in the first degree earlier this year.

• A study to monitor the potentially imperiled Aleutian tern kicks off in Alaska

  Yakutat, Alaska (Alaska Beacon) - Researchers fear the uncommon bird may be in severe decline

• Juneau Symphony closes their 60th season with epic 'Showdowns'

  Juneau, Alaska (KINY) - Juneau Symphony's theme for their 60th season was 'Epic' - and their final performance for the season went above and beyond.

• United Fishermen of Alaska announces support for Senator Lisa Murkowski’s Fishing Industry Credit Enhancement Act

  Juneau, Alaska (KINY) - Late last week, Senators Lisa Murkowski and Angus King (I-Maine) introduced bipartisan legislation aimed at supporting rural fishing communities.