Lace up your sneakers as an annual race returns to Newmarket to raise money for Special Olympics athletes in honour of a slain York Regional Police officer this summer.
Registration is now open for the Race for Plunkett at Riverwalk Commons on Aug. 7 from 6 to 9 p.m. The event will feature a five and 10-kilometre walk and race with activities throughout the day to support Special Olympics Ontario.
“The Race for Plunkett has been an ongoing York Regional Police event to honour the memory of Rob Plunkett,” said Const. James Dickson. “The event has been incorporated into the law enforcement torch run which directly partners with Special Olympics Ontario, an organization that Rob had the pleasure of being a strong supporter of.”
The force has a goal of raising $25,000 and has received more than $14,890 to date. Participants must raise $40 to enter the event and will receive a t-shirt.
“It’s an important event for us not only to be able to celebrate the memory and legacy of our fallen colleague, but to highlight an organization that he was directly involved with,” said Dickson. “York Regional Police has a long history of partnering with the community and this has been an event we return to year after year.”
The event is one of the law enforcement torch runs held all across the province. The local one is named in honour of Det. Const. Rob Plunkett who was killed in the line of duty in 2007.
Rob O’Quinn, president of the York Regional Police Association, an organization that represents more than 2,400 uniformed and civilian members of the force, spent time with Plunkett. He said Plunkett was a busy man with three kids and a wife but he still found time to volunteer and give back to the community. O’Quinn loves that the race continues in his name today.
“The fact that his legacy lives on through these events and they’re still attributed to him being a part of these events in the first place is absolutely magical to me,” said O’Quinn.
Plunkett is honoured in other events such as a memorial baseball tournament and golf classic that have raised over $150,000.
“The numbers are unbelievable that are being raised for this charity in Rob’s name because that is how much love we have for this man and everything he did to bring the charity to the forefront,” said O’Quinn.
Several members of the police force and association will be in attendance. Additional funds will continue to be raised after the race.
