St. Bernard Special Olympics competitors join with sheriff’s deputies, firefighters and state Wildlife and Fisheries agents in the Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics

Competitors from St. Bernard in the Special Olympics Summer Games, along with sheriff’s deputies, firefighters and state Wildlife agents and parish officials before the Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics began on Friday.

Brynn Plaiscia, one of the competitors, holds the Special Olympics torch with Maj,. Chad Clark before the start of the Torch Run.	Participants in the Torch Run on Jean Lafitte Parkway.
Participants in the Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics running on West St. Bernard Highway.	Some of the Special Olympics competitors on West St. Bernard Highway at the start of the Torch Run. They ran only a short distance before boarding a bus to Hammond for the state Summer Games.

Kelli Plaiscia says her daughter, Brynn, 13, loves competing in the State Summer games for Special Olympics and the mother said she is proud sheriff’s deputies and others take part in the St. Bernard leg of the Law Enforcement Torch Rum which raises money for Special Olympics.

“I think it’s wonderful’’ there is so much interest in taking part in the Torch Run and helping Special Olympics, said Plaiscia, whose husband, Mike, is a sheriff’s deputy in St. Bernard.

“I love the fact we do it here in St. Bernard,’’ she said.

Brynn was part of the start of the Torch Run on Friday along with about 20 other Special Olympics competitors from St. Bernard who ran a short distance at the start, then boarded a bus to Hammond to take part in the State Games the weekend of May 20-22.

About 40 St. Bernard sheriff’s deputies, firefighters and state Wildlife agents ran the St. Bernard leg of the Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics on Chalmette streets, starting at the Courthouse and ending in Torres Park.

About $900 was raised in this year’s run for Special Olympics Louisiana and the State Summer Games, said Sgt. Jessica Gernados, who coordinates the run for the Sheriff’s Office.

The Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics has been celebrated for more than 30 years. More than 2,000 law enforcement officers take part statewide.