Michael Murray must love helping children as much as he hates running.
“I'm not a runner, I haven't run since three years out of high school,” the Union Springs native said. “I've lost 75 pounds just training for this.
“I had to change my whole lifestyle,” Murray said.
The burly 27-year veteran of the Auburn Correctional Facility dropped his heavy weight-lifting routine in April so he could pick up a torch Sept. 23. He'll be flying to China to run - and run, and run - in the traditional opening to the biennial Special Olympic World Summer Games.
A longtime volunteer in the Cops Care and several Auburn-area baseball, softball, football and wrestling programs, Murray first got hooked on Special Olympics assistance about five years ago.
“It's hard to explain,” he said. “You've got to go to an event and see what goes on, then you're hooked.”
He was selected as a member of the Special Olympics committee by his colleagues and eventually became a member of the state Special Olympics Law Enforcement Torch Run Committee.
Even so, his appointment to represent New York as one of 50 U.S. law enforcement representatives overseas came as a big surprise. For Murray, who puts in about 220 hours of volunteer service each month, helping out is about the results.
The volunteer has seen many problem children scared straight in part due to his intervention. He's achieved a notoriety as coach and Special Olympics mentor that inspires him.
None of it could happen without his family, said Murray, who Friday morning was on his way to volunteering at a State Fair booth with his son, Michael, in tow.
“You know why I do it? They come with me,” Murray said, referring to Michael, wife Suzanne and daughters Amanda and Meghan. “That's how I get away with it.”
However, he'll be flying solo to China where he'll stay until Oct. 4. Murray's disdain for running makes the experience all the more meaningful for him.
“What keeps me going is the athletes,” he said. “It they can do it, I've got to do it for them.”
Staff writer Shane Liebler can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 248 or shane.liebler@lee.net
“I had to change my whole lifestyle,” Murray said.
The burly 27-year veteran of the Auburn Correctional Facility dropped his heavy weight-lifting routine in April so he could pick up a torch Sept. 23. He'll be flying to China to run - and run, and run - in the traditional opening to the biennial Special Olympic World Summer Games.
A longtime volunteer in the Cops Care and several Auburn-area baseball, softball, football and wrestling programs, Murray first got hooked on Special Olympics assistance about five years ago.
“It's hard to explain,” he said. “You've got to go to an event and see what goes on, then you're hooked.”
He was selected as a member of the Special Olympics committee by his colleagues and eventually became a member of the state Special Olympics Law Enforcement Torch Run Committee.
Even so, his appointment to represent New York as one of 50 U.S. law enforcement representatives overseas came as a big surprise. For Murray, who puts in about 220 hours of volunteer service each month, helping out is about the results.
The volunteer has seen many problem children scared straight in part due to his intervention. He's achieved a notoriety as coach and Special Olympics mentor that inspires him.
None of it could happen without his family, said Murray, who Friday morning was on his way to volunteering at a State Fair booth with his son, Michael, in tow.
“You know why I do it? They come with me,” Murray said, referring to Michael, wife Suzanne and daughters Amanda and Meghan. “That's how I get away with it.”
However, he'll be flying solo to China where he'll stay until Oct. 4. Murray's disdain for running makes the experience all the more meaningful for him.
“What keeps me going is the athletes,” he said. “It they can do it, I've got to do it for them.”
Staff writer Shane Liebler can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 248 or shane.liebler@lee.net
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cm wrote on Sep 3, 2007 7:58 PM: