Highway Patrol hosts fundraiser to support Special Olympics North Carolina

CHARLOTTE — The Christmas lights at the Charlotte Motor Speedway are always a sight to see, but in a few weeks, it will be race time there again.

The Lights and Sirens Race for Hope will be a first of its kind fundraiser put on by the North Carolina State Highway Patrol, benefitting Special Olympics North Carolina.

“This is a good reminder of all the good that we can do when we all come together,” said Commander of the NC State Highway Patrol, Colonel Freddie Johnson.

He said he is excited to continue the long-standing relationship with Special Olympics, but there is no one who can explain the excitement better than ambassador and athlete Stephanie Wilkerson.

“This is gonna be one amazing event,” she said. “I love it because it’s fun, fun for us athletes because we get to interact with each other, and we get to reconnect with law enforcement.”

Wilkerson has been a Special Olympics athlete for ten years now. From cheerleading to power lifting, she’s done it all and has the medals to prove it. The money raised at this race will allow her and other athletes to keep winning.

“It’s like what I tell everybody, it’s not about the competition, it’s about giving back to my community,” said Wilkerson.

Participating in the Lights and Sirens Race means you get to run or walk on the iconic track and support two iconic state organizations.

“It allows all these opportunities for these athletes to be able to participate in sports and meet other people, and just the relationships that it builds, it just helps everyone,” said Colonel Johnson. “And it’s just so amazing to watch.”

While Colonel Johnson and Wilkerson rival each other for the medals they wear, he knows no one can say it better than her.

“I don’t hold a candle to her,” he said.

“Just come out and have fun at the Charlotte Motor Speedway,” Wilkerson said. “Come out and support Special Olympics.”

If you would like to help support Wilkerson and get the chance to run the track at Charlotte Motor Speedway, click here to sign up.

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