COPS RUNNING FOR A CAUSE

North Ridgeville – Police Officers, Deputies, State Troopers and Police Cadets joined together early Monday morning for a run through Avon and North Ridgeville. The run wasn’t for mere exercise but to help raise money and awareness for the Special Olympics.

This is the fourth year this event has been held in Lorain County. Approximately $10,000.00 had been raised over the last three years. The money comes from the participants themselves, local merchants and businesses, and individuals throughout the communities. The proceeds benefit the Ohio Special Olympic state games, held in Columbus, Ohio.

Prior to the run, participants collect pledges and contributions and are often sponsored by service groups, schools and businesses that raise funds for the “Law Enforcement Torch Run”. North Ridgeville Police alone raised over $2,000.00 this year.

Sergeant Vince Abt of the North Ridgeville Police Department said that special this year was the addition of names of fallen Officers to the t-shirts. “It’s a new design this year and on the back they listed names of fallen Officers. We were first told that Officer Kerstetter’s name would not appear on the shirts until next year but we were pleasantly surprised to find out that they were able to get his name on the shirts in time for the run.” Abt said that runners also wore wristbands that said, “Heroes Live Forever” and “James Kerstetter 177.”

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