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Cpl. Roxanne Dreilich, Kim Poulter of First Air, Lea Martin, director of Special Olympics. NWT, Jane Arychuk, vice president of community and extensions at Aurora College and Const. Warren Hudym gather at the RCMP mess hall Friday morning, where Yellowknife RCMP received an award for their support of Special Olympics. - Kevin Allerston/NNSL photo

SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
Yellowknife RCMP were honoured for their support of Special Olympics NWT during an award ceremony in their mess hall Friday morning.

The NWT Law Enforcement Torch Run (LETR) team raised the most money for the Special Olympics per capita in the world.

The $13,000 raised at the LETR Freezin' for a Reason Polar Plunge in May and $20,000 in September's First Air Hercules Pull challenges were enough to put the NWT on the top of the leader board.

"It's thanks to the contributions, the efforts of the community, residents of Yellowknife. They're really the ones who come out and support our events and make this happen. We hope that next year we will introduce a few more fundraising events and that the community will continue to help support us," said Cpl. Roxanne Dreilich, who has been involved with the committee since it began in 2006.

"I think what's kind of fun is when we started the Freezin' for a Reason Polar Plunge, that's been a bit of a challenge every year because you never know what the ice conditions are going to be like in May," she said.

Yellowknife-born Special Olympian Pierre Laford has been involved in the Special Olympics for approximately 30 years, competing in swimming, bowling and speed skating.

"I'd really like to thank them. They've been really helpful by raising that kind of money to send athletes to competitions wherever they are being held," Laford said. "It's good and it keeps me active, so that way I can go down and compete."

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