Ladies and gentlemen.....start your engines!

88 big trucks are expected to do that tomorrow (September 22) at the Rosenau Trucking Terminal located in Rocky View County headed for Aldersyde and back all in support of the Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics in Alberta.

Known as the Truck Convoy for Special Olympics, the event is now in its 17th year of raising funds and awareness for Special Olympics in the province.

Manager of the Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics Lorrie Sitler gives us a rundown of events for the day.

"In the morning we start off with a breakfast, so all the drivers and any public are welcome to come by and have breakfast.  For the drivers it's included and other people can just throw in a donation if they want to take in the breakfast.  We've got some live music and an MC.  Then there's going to be a driver's meeting at 9:45 am.  Then at 10:00 am, some of the drivers match up with athletes so they'll jump in with the drivers and they'll take off out of Rosenau Transport then go down south to Aldersyde and do a loop over the Aldersyde overpass and come back.  Once they get back we'll have a barbeque for them and an awards ceremony."

Sitler says the event has not only grown in numbers over the last couple of years, but its also grown as a fundraiser for Special Olympics.

"From 2016 to 2017 we doubled our amount, so we raised just a little more than $21,000.  This year it looks like we might hit around $27,000.  We've definitely grown every year."

Sitler says the truckers involved love to be a part of the convoy.  "They love coming out and they get to interact with the athletes.  It's also a nice opportunity for the law enforcement people to join together with the transport industry to help out the athletes.   We do a lot of fundraisers where it's just law enforcement but this is a really unique opportunity for us to partner with the transport agencies."

Sitler says a variety of law enforcement agencies will accompany the truckers on tomorrow's journey. 

It's also Special Olympics 50th Anniversary this year.  In Alberta, Special Olympics provides people with a wide range of abilities the opportunity to take part in sports in 140 communities.  Over 3,300 athletes are involved with 1,300 volunteers helping out. 

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