Special Olympics athlete Brian Wagner will be making a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Shanghai, China for the 2007 Law Enforcement Torch Run (LETR) Final Leg! This event will kick-off the 2007 Special Olympics World Summer Games!

Brian was selected for this honor from dozens of applicants from across the nation due to his dedication, positive attitude and ability to run! Averaging 26 miles a day (a marathon) for four days seems like an impossibly long distance to run, but for Brian Wagner this is an annual event. Each year Brian kicks off the Northeast Leg in Kansas City and travels with it all the way to Wichita. 2007 marked the 12^th year of Brian’s participation on the Kansas Law Enforcement Torch Run.

 During the annual four day run, Brian is joined along the run route by dedicated law enforcement officers. Brain will not only run alongside the officers, but eats and socializes with them, catching up with old friends and sharing stories of the past year. His exceptional communication skills and outgoing personality make it easy for him to make friends with whomever he meets. When nighttime comes, Brian either stays at hotels arranged by the officers or will often stays in the homes of officers along the route.

Chuck Morris with the El Dorado Correctional facility has developed a special relationship with Brian. According to Chuck, "Brian is one of the most upstanding young men I have had the opportunity to meet and come to know.  Although our relationship is only shared once a year, during the annual Torch Run, I have come to highly respect him as an individual, one with grounded morals and solid family values.” Chuck continues, “Brian readily displays his affection towards those that he cares about. We always have to take a short break in Andover so he can buy his wife roses.” 

After the impressive Final Leg run and ceremony, the law enforcement officers take a well-deserved break after their multiple days of running, but not Brian. He must still get ready to compete in his events during the three-day tournament! This doesn’t come as a surprise to people who know Brian and his active lifestyle. Brian’s year- round sports involvement includes such sports as skiing, softball, basketball, athletics, soccer, volleyball and aquatics. 

As if running the annual Kansas Torch Run wasn’t enough miles in a year, Brian will be logging more miles at the 2007 Final Leg in Shanghai, China! He will be running alongside Kansas law enforcement officer, Chief Dennis Shaw from the McPherson Police Department as they represent Kansas in this worldwide event.

Brian says that law enforcement officers inspire him by giving so much time and effort to make Special Olympics what it is today.  He states, “I learned from them how much effort it takes put something big together.” In Kansas, we are so grateful to our dedicated law enforcement officers and genuinely inspired by athletes like Brian who prove that Special Olympics participants are true athletes. What Brian does it truly amazing! 

Brian will be making history by representing Kansas at the Final Leg in China. Please help support Brian's dedication to the LETR and his unique journey to China by making an online donation.