Tug of War For Special Olympics Another Huge Success
Towson, MD (June 2, 2011) --- Another record turnout of teams from all across the state helped the annual Division of Correction Tug of War surpass the quarter-million dollar mark for Special Olympics Maryland on June 1.
Begun as a simple Torch Run participation in the mid-1990s, the annual fundraiser has now evolved into a spectacle of correctional officers, case managers, and headquarters personnel from all three DPSCS correctional divisions running, walking, and rope-pulling their way in one of the State’s largest annual Special Olympics fundraisers.
Teams from State correctional facilities in Cumberland, Westover, Jessup, and Baltimore participated, as well as a team from the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office in southern Maryland.
The day began with a walk and run, featuring Special Olympians carrying the torch.
The tug of war, held despite the high-90s heat, featured 28 teams, in heavyweight (averaging 2,000+ pounds per seven-member team!), lightweight (1400-pound average), and all-women’s teams.
The winners were:
Heavyweight champions: Baltimore City Detention Center
Second place Heavyweight: North Branch Correctional Institution (Cumberland)
Lightweight champions: North Branch Correctional Institution
Second place Lightweight: Maryland Reception, Diagnostic & Classification Ctr.
Ladies champions: Baltimore Area Re-entry Services Facilities
Second place Ladies: Jessup Correctional Institution (not pictured)
Special Olympians spoke to the hundreds gathered, thanking DPSCS for support that has now exceeded $250,000. Check out some photos from the event on the DPSCS Facebook or Flickr pages.
