NB 1211
Sept. 25, 2007
EDITOR'S NOTE: The following feature article was released today by the Department of Natural Resources. MEDIA CONTACT: Brent Roy, Natural Resources, 506-453-7928.
FREDERICTON (CNB) - Ten years ago, James Mundle, a forest ranger with the Department of Natural Resources (DNR), first became the penny collector for the Special Olympics at the elementary schools in Harcourt and Rexton, New Brunswick. At that time, he had no idea that his good deeds would take him to the other side of the globe. Today, Mundle is training hard and getting ready to represent New Brunswick in the final leg of the Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics, taking place in China at the end of this month.
For over 25 years, the Law Enforcement Torch Run has been a Special Olympics tradition. This year, for the first time, the Flame of Hope has traveled the planet in preparation of the 2007 Special Olympics World Summer Games. The torch was lit on June 29, in Athens, Greece, near the Acropolis, and has been making stops in cities like Cairo, London and Washington before ending its journey in Beijing. There, 114 law enforcement officers, 11 Special Olympics athletes, and 14 support team members will take part in the last leg of this international run.
Before getting to Beijing, Mundle and the other runners from North America will be joined by Chinese law enforcement officers and Special Olympics athletes to run through China's major cities. There, they will hold ceremonies to tell hundreds of thousands of people what Special Olympics is all about. Finally, they will deliver the Flame of Hope to the opening ceremony for the 2007 World Games in Shanghai on Oct. 2.
Mundle was nominated by a provincial committee and chosen by a national committee of law enforcement personnel dedicated to raising awareness about the Special Olympics. He is both excited about the trip and honoured to represent New Brunswick's enforcement officers. "I never imagined this would happen,"Mundle said, "but I have been preparing for it since May and I run five kilometres every night." Mundle and the other runners are expected to be able to run a mile in 10 minutes and five miles a day in intervals.
Monty Delong, the district forest ranger at the Dieppe District DNR office, has high praise for Mundle: "I cannot think of a person to better represent the peace officers of New Brunswick or the Department of Natural Resources. James has always been very professional in his job and knows the value of supporting his community," he said. "I am sure these are some of the reasons that he was selected to represent the peace officers of New Brunswick in China. The Department of Natural Resources is proud of James and wishes him well on this great opportunity."
07/09/25
