The Maine Law Enforcement Torch Run is now underway through June 9.  Over 700 members of Maine Law Enforcement will participate in the run across the state of Maine, acting as Guardians of the flame carrying the Flame of Hope to raise funds for and an awareness of Special Olympics Maine.

The run started Tuesday. It will end in a brief final leg at the University of Maine in Orono on Friday afternoon at approximately 4 p.m.

The Torch Run began in 1981 in Wichita, Kansas by Police Chief Richard LaMunyon. He knew there was an urgent need for funds at Special Olympics and he also wanted to get his officers involved in the community. After three years of very successful runs, LaMunyon took his idea to the International Association of Chiefs of Police and received enthusiastic support. To this day the run is sponsored by the IACP. In 1984 the Torch Run was brought to Maine by then Chief Robert Bell.   Today the run is held in all fifty states and over 100 countries.

The Law Enforcement Torch Run is one of Maine’s largest fundraising events for Special Olympics.

There will be a ceremony at 4 p.m.starting at the Steam Plant at UMO frollowed by the parade and Opening Ceremonies of the Special Olympics State Summer Games at 5 p.m.

Last years Torch Run raised close to $400,000 for Special Olympics Maine and with over a $1 million annual budgetm those are much needed funds for SOM. For more information on the Maine Law Enforcement Torch Run please call Lisa Bird at SOME at 879-0489 or email Lisa at lisab@somaine.org or call her on her cell at 207-839-5578 . You can also call Maine Law Enforcement Torch Run Directo Ron Gastia at 207-735-4023.