Cheryl Cepelak to Carry the Flame of Hope for Special Olympics World Games Los Angeles 2015 Final Leg

Deputy Commissioner Cheryl Cepelak, of Old Saybrook, an employee of the Department of Correction in Wethersfield, will represent Special Olympics Connecticut by running the final leg of the Law Enforcement Torch Run at the 2015 Special Olympics World Games in Los Angeles.

The Final Leg tradition is for law enforcement officers, representing their country, state, and Torch Run program, acting as “Guardians of the Flame” and carrying the Special Olympics Torch and “Flame of Hope” to the Opening Ceremony of the Special Olympics 2015 World Games in Los Angeles, California. This Torch Run event is called the Final Leg because it represents the culmination of Torch Run events that have occurred previously throughout the world. The Torch Run Final Leg is not only a salute to the athletes from around the world who will compete in the Special Olympics World Games, but also an honor for the participating law enforcement officers who comprise the Torch Run Final Leg Team. The Special Olympics “Flame of Hope”, in the entrusted care of the law enforcement community, symbolizes the courage and celebration of diversity that the Special Olympics movement represents.

The Flame Arrival Ceremony is scheduled to be held at the state capitol in Sacramento, California on Monday, July 13th. The Flame will then travel throughout the state before reaching the Opening Ceremony in Los Angeles on July 25th. The mission of the Final Leg is to create awareness and excitement for Special Olympics, support the attendance of World Games and involve, inspire and motivate runners to increase their level of commitment to Special Olympics when they return to their local programs. The Final Leg Team is comprised of law enforcement runners, Special Olympics athletes and Logistics Team members from 48 states and 23 countries around the world, representing 79 Torch Run programs.

Cepelak has been selected to be one of the 126 Final Leg Team members, based on her dedication and commitment to Special Olympics Connecticut. She has been volunteering and participating in Special Olympics Connecticut and Law Enforcement Torch Run events for the past three years. She has fundraised and participated in three Penguin Plunges at Hammonassett State Park; two Over the Edge events at Mohegan Sun, and waited tables at multiple Tip-A-Cop events all to benefit Special Olympics Connecticut athletes. Cepelak attended her first Special Olympics Connecticut/Law Enforcement Torch Run conference in Orlando in 2013, where she had the honor of presenting medals to athletes at the Summer Games in Florida.