December 15, 2011 - SOPEI Newsletter - Good Afternoon SOPEI Members and Fans! Please click here to read our Holiday Newsletter. Please note that the office will be closed December 23 at noon until January 3.

December 6, 2011 - Welcome Genna Phelan! - Please join us in welcoming Genna Phelan to the staff of Special Olympics PEI. Genna will take on the role of Program Coordinator and Youth Development. Genna has a wealth of sport knowledge and we look forward to growing our programs with her assistance.

Here is a little note from her:

"My name is Genna Phelan and I am very excited to be Special Olympics PEI’s new program coordinator. I am from Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island and a recent graduate of UPEI. I love all sports but my passion is hockey! I love to play and have been coaching for the past 10 years. I have a strong recreation background and enjoy working with people. I am looking forward to meeting new people within the Special Olympics family. “

December 1, 2011 - ONLY 200 Tickets Left! - A sincere thank you to all who have supported SOPEI by buying tickets on our annual Toyota Car Lottery. We are approximately 200 tickets away from goal, so get your ticket now and help us get over the top!!

Tickets will be available at the SOPEI office and Home Hardware stores until Friday of next week if you haven’t had a chance to get your ticket.

October 4, 2011 - Program Coordinator Position - SOPEI is currently seeking a Program Coordinator! Please click here for the full job description. Please contact Charity Sheehan via email or at 368-8919 for more information.

September 21, 2011 - Law Enforcement Torch Run - As part of the annual Law Enforcement Torch Run fundraising, members of law enforcement agencies from across Prince Edward Island will be running on Saturday, October 1. The annual PEI Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics will take place at Cavendish Grove (former Rainbow Valley Site) in Prince Edward Island’s National Park. Registration will begin at 9 a.m. and the run will start at 10. Registration is $15 for adults; $5 for children and students; and $30 for a family. The run is open to anyone and everyone and is posted as part of the line up of the PEI Roadrunners run schedule. Prizes will be drawn, with a top prize of a year’s gym membership at UPEI. The run will be held on the Park trails, with a 5 KM and a 10 KM option.

The Torch Run is an international event that began in 1981 when a run between Topeka and Kansas City raised over $15000 in support of Special Olympics. Since that time, the Torch Run has spread to over 20 countries involving over 50,000 law enforcement officers from a variety of policing agencies, raising more than $7,000,000 worldwide. In Prince Edward Island, law enforcement personnel from across the province take to the roads every year to kick off a series of other annual events and fundraisers that benefit the provincial sport organization that provides sport training and competitive opportunities for athletes with an intellectual disability.

Provincial Torch Run Coordinator, Roger Steadman, Provincial Director with Parks Canada added, “We’re very pleased to be holding this run for such a great cause, and increasing public awareness of Special Olympics on Prince Edward Island. The event allows our members to feel they are contributing to the quality of life in our communities and will also kick off the first of many fundraising initiatives.” Steadman adds, “We also thank the PEI Roadrunners for assisting us with this fundraiser.”