The Fairfax County Police Department is hosting the first annual Law Enforcement Torch Run in Reston Town Center on July 21.
Proceeds from the event will support athletes from Special Olympics Virginia. The event will begin at the pavilion at Reston Town Center. Runners will travel down the green trail and back, a roughly 1.5-mile distance. Check-in begins at 6 a.m. and the run will start at 8 a.m.
Registration is $20 per participant and is open online. The Law Enforcement Torch Run is a fundraising campaign that began in Wichita, Kansas in 1981. Police departments and law enforcement agencies participate in runs to raise money for the Special Olympics.
During most runs, law enforcement members and Special Olympics athletes carry the “flame of hope” in the opening ceremony of local competitions. The initiative has raised more than $600 million for Special Olympics programs since it began.
Photo via Law Enforcement Torch Run
ABC7 Features Reston Athlete — Rose Pleskow, a Reston resident born with intellectual disabilities and epilepsy, was featured on the TV channel. She won the bronze medal in the 1500 meters race in the Special Olympic World Games in 2011. Pleskow now competes internationally in open water swimming. [ABC7]
Rich Kleinfeldt and Yuniko Rogers to Perform at CenterStage Today — The artists will perform at CenterStage (2310 Colts Neck Road) from 2:15 – 3:30 p.m. as part of a collaboration between will join us for our free Meet the Artists Series at the CenterStage tomorrow, 11/9, from 2:15 – 3:30 p.m. [Reston Community Center]
South Lakes High School to Perform ‘Almost Maine’ — Students will perform John Cariani’s classic romantic comedy on Nov. 16 and 17 at 7 p.m. and on Nov. 18 at 2 p.m and 7 p.m. Tickets are $10 for adults and $8 for students. [South Lakes Theatre Arts]
Greater Reston Arts Center Selects Volunteer of the Year — The arts center selected Nicola Shelley as the volunteer of the year. The award recognizes a volunteer that commits personal time and resources to support the center’s programs. Nicola is the lead art coordinator at Buzz Aldrin Elementary School. [Greater Reston Arts Center]
The annual Plane Pull for charity returns to the Dulles Day Family Festival Sept. 20, so now is the time to gather your friends and co-workers to see if you can move the 164,000-lb. Airbus.
The annual event, which will benefit Special Olympics, pits teams of 25 against the plane. Teams must raise a minimum of $1,500 to participate.
Here is what you need to know:
Prizes will also be awarded to the teams who raise the most money, teams who show the most enthusiasm, the lightest and the heaviest teams, and even the slowest team.
Kids  can get involved and play for bragging rights. The Kids Truck Pull will provide a fun challenge for teams of eight, who will try and pull a 123JUNK truck 12 feet. To participate, you must raise or donate a minimum of $10/person.
All participants will receive a Plane Pull T-shirt
Prior to the Plane Pull, runners, walkers and stroller pushers can participate in the 5K/10K on the Runway. The Dulles Airport Runway will be closed off to airport traffic so participants can run past planes and along the actual landing strip. This popular event is limited to 2,500 runners. The cost for the 5K is $35 until Sept. 17, space permitting.
The Dulles Day Family Festival, sponsored by the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority and Software AG, willalso feature live music, a car show, military and civilian aircraft displays, police K-9 demonstrations, business exhibits, and a Kids Zone. There is no charge to enter the festival, although donations are appreciated.
For more information, visit wwwplanepull.com.
Photo: Dulles Day Plane Pull/Courtesy of Plane Pull and Special Olympics
