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Waldoboro Police Officer Larry Hesseltine, founder of the annual charity motorcycle Torch Ride. (D. Lobkowicz photo) |
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By Dominik Lobkowicz
Torch Ride founder Larry Hesseltine is starting to ramp up interest and
sponsorships for the annual charity motorcycle ride held each fall to
benefit Special Olympics Maine.
Hesseltine, now an officer with the Waldoboro Police Department, founded
the Torch Ride in 2010 in a partnership with the Knox County chapter of
United Bikers of Maine and under the umbrella of the Law Enforcement Torch
Run for Special Olympics.
Since its inception, the Torch Ride has raised over $40,000 to benefit
Special Olympics Maine, according to Hesseltine, and local law enforcement
officers are starting to approach businesses in the area about sponsoring
the event this year.
“We’re mainly targeting Knox, Lincoln, and Kennebec counties for
sponsorships,” he said.
Hesseltine said he has participated in the Law Enforcement Torch Run since
starting as a law enforcement officer in 1988, and came up with the Torch
Ride because of his love of riding motorcycles.
After seeing a video about another Special Olympics motorcycle run – an
international event called Dream Ride – and hearing its founder, Mike
Bozzuto, speak about it, the idea was set in Hesseltine’s mind.
Since then, Hesseltine said his relationship with Special Olympics and the
athletes has changed.
“I didn’t have compassion for Special Olympics until I got involved with
the athletes and started building relationships and seeing what my
involvement meant to them,” he said, despite his years of participation in
the Torch Run. “I don’t know how to put into words the satisfaction you
have after being involved in something like the Torch Ride, of just doing
something good.”
Hesseltine said the Torch Ride has become more than just a fundraiser and
is really a day for the athletes, who go along on the ride via bus and
participate in other parts of the event.
“It just helps them to know that people support them,” he said.
Since starting the Torch Ride in 2010, Hesseltine said the amount of
athletes participating in Special Olympics in Maine has grown from around
3,100 to about 3,700.
“There’s a lot more that could or should be involved in the program if the
money was there,” he said.
This year’s Torch Ride is scheduled for Sunday, Sept. 21. The ride starts at
the Owls Head Transportation Museum and will follow Route 1 to Wiscasset,
Route 27 to Augusta, and Route 17 back to Owls Head.
The $25 registration for riders and attendees covers admission and access
to the museum, and, after the ride, live music by Crossin’ Mason Dixon and
a barbecue put on by the Knox County Sheriff’s Office. A free event T-shirt
is offered to those registered before Sept. 1.
Those who wish to ride but don’t have a motorcycle are welcome to ride the
bus with the athletes, Hesseltine said.
Riders can also collect pledges, and incentives are available for those
that meet certain benchmarks, he said.
New this year, those preferring to support Special Olympics on foot can
participate in the Torch Ride 5K walk and run on Saturday, Sept. 20.
The 5K, organized by Trina Johnson, a member of the Torch Ride board, will
be held at a location to be determined in Thomaston, according to
Hesseltine. Registration is $20 per person for ages 12 and up.
For more information, to sponsor, or to donate for fundraising raffles,
email torchridemaine@gmail.com. Find
the Special Olympics Torch Ride on Facebook or visit http://torchride.info.
A printable registration form for the Torch Ride itself is available on the
event’s website; registration for the 5K will be available via http://www.active.com.
