The Statewide Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics Missouri, founded by the Missouri Police Chiefs Association, will begin on May 21st.

The Torch Run continues through June 1st at the Opening Ceremonies for State Games in Springfield. 

According to a press release, local routes from Maryville to Pumpkin Center to Savannah to St. Joseph will be on May 22nd.

Law Enforcement officers from around the state will be running the torch to raise awareness for Special Olympics Missouri and the 2018 State Summer Games.  The State Summer Games will be held in Springfield June 1-3, 2018. The culmination of the Torch Run – the lighting of the Flame of Hope – will take place during the Opening Ceremonies, on June 1st.

Participating local agencies include the Maryville Treatment Center, Missouri State Highway Patrol Troop H, Savannah Police Department, WRDCC and the St. Joseph Police Department.

The local routes on May 22nd for the torch run are as follows:

• Maryville to Pumpkin Center – 9:00 a.m.
• Pumpkin Center to Savannah – 10:00 a.m.
• Savannah to St. Joseph – 12:30 p.m.
• St. Joseph – 3:00 p.m.

The Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics is an annual event with the purpose of the event being to raise funds and awareness for over 15,000 athletes who participate in the Missouri program. Special Olympics is law enforcement’s charity of choice, not only in Missouri, but throughout the United States and in 45 countries worldwide.  More than 1,000 runners from 187 agencies from across the state will participate in the 2018 Torch Run. These runners will complete 42 different routes and cover over 1,000 miles across Missouri.