Officers to Support Special Olympics with Law Enforcement Torch Run

Officers will carry the "Flame of Hope" across the state to honor Special Olympics athletes and promote inclusion and acceptance for people of all abilities during the annual Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics Connecticut, Wednesday, June 4th, Thursday, June 5th and Friday, June 6th. 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 correctional 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 some communities.

Leg 1: Chester to Ledyard
Leg 2: Putnam to Ledyard
Leg 3: North Branford to Wethersfield
Leg 4: Willimantic to Bloomfield
Leg 4A: Enfield to Glastonbury
Leg 5: Plymouth to West Hartford
Leg 6: Naugatuck to West Hartford
Leg 7: Hamden to Newington
Leg 8: Clinton to New Haven
Leg 9: New Milford to Bethany
Leg 9A: Ridgefield & Wilton
Leg 9B: Monroe to New Haven
Leg 10: Greenwich to New Haven

Torch Run rallies will be held at Whelen Engineering and Foxwoods Resort Casino on Wednesday, June 4th and Blue Back Square in West Hartford on Thursday, June 5th. 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, June 6th at 6:30 p.m. During the ceremony, they will light a large cauldron and help kick off Summer Games weekend.

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 are the Bearingstar Insurance Charitable Fund, the Connecticut Elks Association, and Whelen Engineering, and Media Sponsors are Hearst Connecticut Media Group and NBC Connecticut and Telemundo Connecticut.

About Special Olympics Connecticut

Special Olympics Connecticut provides year-round sports training and competition opportunities for nearly 14,000 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 200 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: The Connecticut Elks Association, Enterprise, ESPN, Eversource, the Knights of Columbus, the Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics Connecticut, NBC Connecticut and Telemundo Connecticut, Pratt & Whitney and Webster Bank. Year-Round Suppliers: Coca-Cola Beverages Northeast, Foxwoods Resort Casino, Hearst Connecticut Media Group, iHeart Radio Connecticut, N&D Sports, NBC Connecticut and Telemundo Connecticut, Pepperidge Farm and WORX.