Northbrook Police on the Run for a Good Cause

You don’t need to be extraordinary to lend a hand to the Special Olympics - all you have to do is sponsor a cop.

Fifteen local policemen are participating in the June 10 Law Enforcement Torch Run, which is raising money for Special Olympics Illinois.

All the money raised through the Run will go to the organization, said Mary Carlyon, who is coordinating Northbrook’s participation in the Torch Run.

So how will they do it? The officers will run in a pack with counterparts from Northfield and Buffalo Grove on a three-mile stretch from Milwaukee Avenue and Hintz Road to Milwaukee and Lake Avenue.

“State police cars will be in front of them with their lights on and cars from Northbrook, Buffalo Grove and Northfield will be behind them so they’ll be safe while they’re running,” Carlyon said.

The Torch Run has involved officers from Northbrook for years, she said. In fact one of the “grandfathers” of the event, Deputy Chief Bob Jones, came right out of Northbrook’s Police Department, she added. 

It’s an effort that police in Northbrook care deeply about, she said, because people have family or friends with special needs children.

“What makes this special? Officers have put it together and want to promote that. This is for a good cause. And 100 percent of the money goes to Special Olympics.”

The final leg of the Torch Run will be June 15 at the start of the State Summer Games, which will be held in Normal on the campus of Illinois State University.

To sponsor an officer, send checks, made payable to “Illinois Special Olympics” to , 1401 Landwehr Rd., Northbrook IL, 60062. For more information, call Mary Carlyon at the department, 847-564-2060.