The Bedellus

I applied to be a Olympic Torch Bearer months ago and was selected for my voluntarism as Town Crier after writing an essay on the subject.  On Wednesday, December 30th, I ran as runner #097 at beautiful Downtown Sundridge. The effort that goes into putting on this Run is phenomenal. You get a quick 1 hr seminar showing how to stand, lighting the torch from one to another, then its on a bus in a large contingency of vans, trucks with singers, about eight police cars. At your designated spot you get off and wait for the runner to bring the flame to you and then you run 300 meters to the next awaiting runner. You have time for about 2 minutes maximum for any photos with family, friends or just friendly Canadians and then you’re heaved back onto the bus until the end of the run which included the villages of Sundridge and South River which is about one hour drive from Bracebridge.  Other runners traveled from Thunder Bay, Niagara area and Nepean to do it!!!

Each day, the Torch Run has 240 people to escort the torch and putting on a show at selected communities, drive the buses and escort vehicles, police, camera personnel, etc.  I had four RCMP and two OPP officers run beside me to protect the torch so no one interfered with the run.  They also have two Indian Runners behind me, in case the flame is extinguished they each have another aflame direct from the Greece site, to relight it.  They also have an additional eight lamps lit from Greece travelling all in separate vehicles and must be miles apart in case of some extreme situation which may extinguish the flame plus one back in Vancouver in case of a real disaster.

I bought the Torch that I ran with and a silver stand for it: expensive but worth it. Apparently some one selling them on eBay and getting several thousand dollars for them.  I’m too proud to sell such history.

All along the route you could hear my son and fellow crier, Shaun yelling… “That a boy, Pops”.  Most of my family traveled with some friends to be there to support me.  I also took a small bell to ring as the Town Crier since I couldn’t run with the large bell.  By the time, I got to the end of the run, my arms felt like they were falling off, but… I rang my bell for the whole run!

Well, it was a great way to finish the year… “Running the Olympic Torch shouting “O’Canada” and With Glowing Hearts ringing my Crier’s bell!

Happy New Years!