The first scheduled event for the eighth annual World’s Largest Truck Convoy for Special Olympics is days away from kicking off in South Carolina.
The convoy is a combined effort between law enforcement officers and truck drivers who participate in the celebration to raise money for the Special Olympics. Most convoys are scheduled for Sept. 20, although others are scheduled to run through October.
Special Olympics South Carolina is scheduled to hold its convoy on Sept. 6.
The minimum donation to participate in the convoy is $100, although individual truckers and trucking companies bid much higher than that to win the right to have their trucks lead one of the convoys.
Even though the economic downturn and jump in diesel prices have jolted the industry, convoy founder Cpl. Norm Schneiderhan said earlier this summer that he expects this year’s convoy to be bigger than ever. So far, the convoy has scheduled 53 events spread out among 40 U.S. states and Canadian provinces.
“Last year, we went through 5,000 goody bags. This year we’ll probably go through about 7,700 of them,” Norm said then. “I don’t think the bad economy will hurt. To be honest with you, we average about 15 miles (per event). But the advantage companies get putting their company trucks in line and the morale boost for the driver – it’s hard to explain.”
For information on the nationwide effort and specific convoys, click here.
Here is a partial list of convoys scheduled as of late August:
Alberta, Canada
Sept. 20
(780) 415-0719
Arizona
Sept. 6 in Kingman
Sept. 20 in Phoenix
Oct. 4 in Eloy
(602) 230-1200
Arkansas
Sept. 20
(501) 569-2421
British Columbia, Canada
Sept. 21
(604) 864-4818
California
Sept. 20 in Sacramento
Sept. 20 in Madera
(925) 408-4134
Delaware
Oct. 11
(301) 831-3482
Florida
At press time,
no convoy planned
Georgia
Sept. 20
(770) 414-9390, Ext. 115
Idaho
Sept. 20 (tentative)
1-800-234-3658
Illinois
Sept. 20
1-800-394-0562
www.soill.org
Iowa
Sept. 20
515-986-5520
Kansas
Sept. 20 in Gardner
Sept. 20 in Colby
1-800-444-9803
Kentucky
Sept. 13
(502) 326-5002
Louisiana
Sept. 12 and 13 in Shreveport
Sept. 20 in Woodworth
(318) 335-0606
http://www.laso.org
Manitoba, Canada
Sept. 13
(204) 925-5628
www.mbsoconvoy.ca
Michigan
Sept. 20
1-800-644-6404
Minnesota
Sept. 13
(612) 604-1272
Missouri
Sept. 20
1-800-846-2682
Montana
Sept. 20
(406) 216-5327
Nebraska
Sept. 20
1-800-247-0105, Ext. 17
Nevada
Sept. 6 in Las Vegas
Sept. 20 in Reno
(877) 417-2742, Ext. 205
New Mexico
Sept. 20
(505) 856-0342
North Carolina
Sept. 20 at Raleigh
Sept. 20 at Charlotte
(919) 719-7663, Ext. 119
North Dakota
Sept. 20 in West Fargo
1-800-279-4201
Ohio
Sept. 20 in Toledo
(419) 353-9728
Ontario, Canada
Sept. 20 in Paris, Ontario
www.sosoconvoy.com
Pennsylvania
Sept. 27 in Frystown
(610) 630-9450 Ext. 226
Saskatchewan, Canada
Sept. 13 or Sept. 20
1-888-307-6226, Ext. 2
South Carolina
Sept. 6
(803) 397-6303
South Dakota
Sept. 20
(417) 291-0202
Texas
Oct. 25
(713) 290-0049
Utah
Sept. 13
(801) 363-1111, Ext. 228
Virginia
Sept. 13
(757) 288-5641
Washington
Sept. 20
1-800-752-7559, Ext. 218
West Virginia
Sept. 20
(304) 765-5202
Wisconsin
Sept. 20
1-800-552-1324, Ext. 222
http://www.specialolympicswisconsin.org/torch_convoy.asp
Wyoming
Sept. 20
1-800-735-8345
– By Charlie Morasch, staff writer
charlie_morasch@landlinemag.com
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