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Show - CUPPERGARY BLODGETT THIS GROUP OF handicapped youngsters from Monte Vista School ran side-by-side with Bountiful police officers in benefit run for Utah Special Olympics. Run for Special Olympics By GARY R. BLODGETT News Editor A torch run to raise money for Utah Special Olympics extended through Davis County under clear skies and warm temperature Tuesday. It was a special day for all youngsters of the Special Olympics - but an especially proud day for about 20 youngsters from Monte Vista School, of Farmington, who ran along side of the Bountiful police officers. Taking the first lap of the stretch through Bountiful was Bountiful Police Chief Larry D. Higgins. He took the torch at Page's Lane and Main Street. Selected to run the first leg with the chief were Holly Tennant, Amy Adams and Jamie Laws. Running with their heads held high -- and even assisting the chief with the torch -- they ran until their little legs and lungs gave out. Then a new set of handicapped younsters would join the run and two-by-two all 22 youngsters joined in the festival along Main Street through the middle of Bountiful. Boun-tiful. At 2600 South, the last of eight Continued on page two 1 Run for Special Olympics Continued from page one Bountiful police officers handed the torch to a Woods Cross officer. A few minutes later, the torch was passed to North Salt Lake officers who carried it to the Salt Lake County Line on Redwood Road. Earlier, Sunset, Clinton, Clearfield, Clear-field, Layton, Kaysville, Farmig-ton Farmig-ton and Centerville police officers had carried the torch from Weber County, assisted along the way by Davis County Sheriffs Department Depart-ment runners. "I thought it would be a great experience to have these handicapped handicap-ped youngsters run with our officers," offic-ers," said Chief Higgins. "Now that I see their excitement, I know it was a good idea." The youngsters youngs-ters reside in all parts of Davis County and attend Monte Vista School for special training. A spokesperson for the school said many of the youngsters will be competing in the Utah Special Olympics competition in Provo, on the BYU campus. May 30. Utah Special Olympics is the world's largest sports competition and training program for children and adults with mental retardation. This week's torch run originated at various locations of the state and concluded at the BYU campus in Provo. Utah Special Olympics - with several hundred competing in individual indi-vidual and relay events - will begin Friday at noon with the traditional "Flame of Hope" cremony. The torch run of law enforcement enforce-ment officers included more than 350 runners covering 50 to 75 miles each of the four days. Donations are being received by employees of the law enforcement agencies --sponsors --sponsors of the Utah Special Olympics and from private individuals. indi-viduals. Contributions are expected ex-pected to exceed $25,000. |