Officers Will Carry the Torch for Special Olympics, May 29th-31st

Officers will carry the "Flame of Hope" across the state on foot, bike and motorcycle to honor our athletes and promote inclusion for people of all abilities during the annual Connecticut Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics, Wednesday, May 29th, Thursday, May 30th and Friday, May 31st. To find out more, visit soct.org, email specialolympicsct@soct.org or call 203-230-1201. And, follow Special Olympics Connecticut and the Connecticut Law Enforcement Torch Run (CTLETR) on Facebook and Instagram.

Among the participants in the Torch Run will be officers from municipal departments and correction facilities, as well as military police and Federal employees, Connecticut State Police and college and university public safety officers. Special Olympics athletes will join in the Run in select communities.

Torch Run rallies will be held at Whelen Engineering and Foxwoods Resort Casino on Wednesday, May 29th and Blue Back Square in West Hartford on Thursday, May 30th. The rallies at Foxwoods at Blue Back Square will take place around 5 p.m. each day.

Officers will also run a "Final Leg" during the Summer Games Opening Ceremony at Southern Connecticut State University's Jess Dow Field, 125 Wintergreen Avenue in Hamden, on Friday, May 31st at 6:30 p.m. During the ceremony, they will light a large cauldron and celebrate the start of the Games.

All are encouraged to support their local officers by cheering them on during the three-day Run, attending the Summer Games opening ceremony which is free and open to all and visiting restaurants and businesses where the officers will host Tip-A-Cop events and additional fundraisers for Special Olympics throughout the year. Find out more at soct.org.

Platinum Sponsors of the Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics Connecticut include the Bearingstar Insurance Charitable Fund, the Dream Ride Experience, Whelen Engineering and WWE. Gold Sponsors are Adams Hometown Markets and IGA Hometown Supermarkets. And, Media Sponsors are iHeart Radio Connecticut, Hearst Connecticut Media Group and NBC Connecticut and Telemundo Connecticut.

About Special Olympics Connecticut
Special Olympics Connecticut provides year-round sports training and competitions for more than 12,000 athletes of all ages with intellectual disabilities and Unified Sports® partners - their teammates without disabilities. Through the joy of sport, the Special Olympics movement transforms lives and communities throughout the state and in 190 countries around the world by promoting good health and fitness and inspiring inclusion and respect for people of all abilities, on and off the playing field. (www.soct.org)

Partner Sponsors: Bozzuto's Inc., the Connecticut Elks Association, Enterprise, ESPN, Eversource, The Hometown Foundation, the Knights of Columbus, the Law Enforcement Torch Run, NBC Connecticut and Telemundo Connecticut, Pratt & Whitney, Webster Bank and WWE.

Year-Round Suppliers: Adams Hometown Markets/IGA Hometown Supermarkets, Bozzuto's Inc., Coca-Cola Beverages Northeast, Foxwoods Resort Casino, Hearst Connecticut Media Group, iHeart Radio Connecticut, N&D Sports, NBC Connecticut and Telemundo Connecticut, Pepperidge Farm, State of Connecticut Judicial Branch Community Service and WORX.