Arrival In Ames

The Final Leg team spent the first night in Ames Iowa, sight of the 2006 Special Olympics National Games. When we arrived at the hotel I was greeted by several familiar faces that I have gotten to know quiet well over the years through the LETR. I also began meeting my team members. I am sure that every single team leader says he has the best team but their is no doubt that mine is the BEST and by far the funniest!!

Here is a little insight into team #1...

Robbie Strickland is our athlete, inspiration and team comedian. There is not a dull moment when you are around Robbie, he is a barrel of fun and laughs. Robbie is 34 years old and lives in Warren, Rhode Island. From the sounds of it he is a bit of a local celebrity. He was elected into Warren’s Sports Hall of Fame for winning a gold medal in track and field at the World Special Olympics Summer Games in 2003. 

Tom Madera is an officer with the Southern Connecticut University Police. Together with Robbie these two have had our team in stitches since we met. Tom organizes his departments fundraisers for Special Olympics Connecticut as well as playing on two unified sports teams, softball and floor Hockey.

Jason Niemi is an officer with the Weatland Police Department in Wheatland, Wyoming. He has assisted for several years organizing and planning his areas portion of the Wyoming statewide Final Leg Torch Run. 

Amanda Velenica works for New Mexico State Department of Corrections  at their training academy. She assists with her departments fundraising efforts for Special Olympics New Mexico. She is currently nursing an injury so we aren’t sure how much running she will be doing but she is our cheerleader and Robbie definitely has taking a liking to her. 

Eric Guerrero is the Senior Warden at the Lopez/Segovia Complex in Edinburg, Texas near brownsville. Eric is heavily involved in is departments fundraising efforts and helped plan the 2008 LETR Conference in Dallas.

Jana Rooker works for the Polk County Sheriff’s Office in Iowa as their Public Information Officer. She has been an active participiant in her states torch run and it’s fundraising program. She definetly adds spark to the team

Jake Johnson (Cousin Cleddie as we were told to call him by his wife) is driving the team #1 family truckster. He and I got to know one another during the 2009 Final Leg when is was the Oklahoma runner and he was a support team member. Jake works for the Bingham County Sheriff’s Department.

Once we all got checked into our hotel rooms and received our gear the team loaded up the RV’s and headed to downtown Ames for an event called “Midnight Madness.” This is an annual event that is a festival and 5K run. Our Final Leg Team started off the event with a group fun as several hundred people if not close to a thousand cheered us on. After dinner we all headed back to the hotel and cleaned up before dinner. At the team dinner we all were treated with a talk by former IACP (International Chiefs of Police Association) Chairman Russ Lane. Mr. Lane is a long time Torch Runner and a member of the Final Leg support staff. Mr. Lane has been all over the world spreading the Special Olympics Movement, and talked about his experiences. He encouraged us all to stay involved, stay motivated and to remember that what we do does make a difference in the lives of another.