NEW JERSEY COPS ■ MARCH 2014
To prepare for the Torch Run, Westrich is running the Jersey
Shore Half-Marathon on April 26 and the Lincoln Tunnel Challenge Run on April 27. Both events benefit Special Olympics. In
addition, she has been waking up to train at 3 a.m. so she can
get in her five-mile run in time to start her shift at the Adult
Diagnostic and Treatment Center in Avenel by 6 a.m.
“I was really taken aback; it’s such a privilege to be chosen for
this honor,” Westrich related. “We’re running to bring awareness.”
Ah yes, awareness. That’s really what’s in it for law enforcement volunteering to serve the USA Games. Westrich finds that
in a profession that deals with a lot of negative – especially in
a prison – the Special Olympics games brings back a lot of the
positive. She has brought at least one new person to the games
with each year, and each one has come back the next year.
“Try it once and you will be hooked for life,” she explains.
“Once you’ve been there and experienced it, it’s the best feeling. At the Opening Ceremonies there will be high-fiving and
hugging and you get sucked in.”
Law Enforcement officers get the privilege of awarding
medals to the athletes after each competition. Belfiore emphasizes that the athletes “don’t want the medals form anybody
else.” And watching that scene year after year is what makes
Edenzon say, “I believe law enforcement officers are friends
first. They serve as ambassadors every day because they understand what our organization is all about.”
So this is the feeling Kevin Lyons promises to anybody who
wants to volunteer. And he believes giving a day or night to this
cause is not too much to ask for one simple reason:
“I can assure anybody who gets involved and interacts with
these athletes that you will be rewarded with more than
gold.” d
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