Local law enforcement officers and Special Olympics athletes came together in Bellefontaine Tuesday morning for the annual Law Enforcement Torch Run benefiting Special Olympics Ohio.
Participants from the Bellefontaine Police Department, Russells Point Police Department, Logan County Sheriff’s Office, and the Logan County Braves took part in the event as the Flame of Hope made its way through Logan County.
The local leg of the run was organized by Kennon Coleman.
Coleman, a sergeant with the Warren County Sheriff’s Office in Lebanon, helped kick off the run by handing the torch to participants at the Bellefontaine Police Department.
Runners traveled from the police department to the Logan County Sheriff’s Office, with community members and local businesses lining portions of the route to cheer them on.
Athletes from the Logan County Braves Special Olympics team also joined in, helping carry the torch near the finish line.
Coleman said the Law Enforcement Torch Run not only raises money for Special Olympics athletes across Ohio, but also helps promote inclusion and awareness for individuals with intellectual disabilities.
Rose Cantor, the Logan County Special Olympics Coordinator, said she is proud to continue the Law Enforcement Torch Run tradition.
The Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics started in Wichita, Kansas, in 1981 and has grown into a worldwide movement involving law enforcement agencies in more than 45 countries.
Funds raised through the event help provide year-round sports training, health education, and leadership opportunities for more than 200,000 Special Olympics Ohio athletes.
Coleman said more than $60,000 has already been raised toward this year’s $100,000 fundraising goal, and organizers expect to reach that mark later this week.
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