FLINT, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – Michiganders in the Upper and Lower Peninsula have been invited to participate in the Law Enforcement Torch Run (LETR) from September 10th through the 17th, which is during Flame of Hope Week.

The fundraiser raises money and awareness for Special Olympics Michigan and involves Michigan communities in fun runs all over the state where they will run shoulder to shoulder with law enforcement and corrections personnel. The funds collected will help athletes to attend statewide tournaments where they are able to compete for free in flag football, soccer, cycling, softball and golf.

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To get involved, participants can go to the events or walk/run/bike virtually. Registrations can be done ahead of time online or at the event. With each $30 donated, supporters will receive a free t-shirt.

Dogs can also be registered for the Torch run for $10 and and will be decked out in LETR gear too.

The Flame of Hope involves a symbolic torch that’s run annually from Lansing to Mt. Pleasant to light the cauldron at the State Summer games. At the statewide tournaments, the Flame of Hope is carried and the cauldron is lit to signify the events taking place.

Starting in Flint on September 10th, the in-person community runs will be in Mount Clemens, Wakefield, Hillsdale, Copper Harbor, St. Joseph, Gerrish Township, Iron Mountain, Marquette, Muskegon, Cheboygan, Gwinn, Holland, Jackson County, Rockford, Escanaba, Greenville, Mt. Pleasant, Midland, Alma, Lansing, Detroit on Belle Isle, Munising, Oakland County, Port Huron and Sault Ste. Marie. Location information and times can be found at the registration link above.

In addition to the local community runs, police officers involved in the Michigan LETR participate in many ways to help the Special Olympians including hosting different agency fundraising events, assisting in medal presentations at the game, selling merchandise and raffle tickets and participating in a Polar Plunge and Tip-a-Cops fundraisers where law enforcement officers serve customers dinner.

To date, LETR has raised over $600 million for Special Olympics programs. Law enforcement officers all over the country have been raising awareness and funds for Special Olympics for 35 years. Known as Guardians of the Flame, law enforcement members and Special Olympics athletes carry the “Flame of Hope” into opening ceremonies of local competitions as well as to state, provincial, national, regional and world games.

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There are more than 97,000 law enforcement members who carry the “Flame of Hope” annually, which symbolizes the courage and celebration of diversity uniting communities around the globe.

This year’s events are a return to in-person competition following the pandemic. Tim Hileman, President & CEO of Special Olympics Michigan, says, “We are excited to continue our return to in-person competition. Like our State Summer Games we held in June, seeing our athletes return to the playing field brings us such joy. We are thrilled to see our Michigan athletes comeback after a long couple of years.”