As the Flame of Hope made its way to the Opening Ceremo-
ny for the 35th time, with hundreds of officers in attendance
to light the SONJ cauldron, it was clear that law enforcement
and the SONJ have become one powerful unit, always working
together to create meaningful experiences for those with spe-
cial needs. From 30 officers to 3,000 officers, the mission of the
Torch Run has stayed the same, but the impact has made a no-
ticeable difference.
“I’ve seen the young guys and girls come up with great ideas
to push the flame forward,” Belfiore proudly states. “We want
to make sure that people know that these athletes don’t need a
handout, they just need a hand. And we’re here to do that.” d
www.njcopsmagazine.com
■ JULY 2018 47