Runners Boyd, Shala and Brook White leading some Special Olympians.
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Special Olympians following the Law Enforcement runners.
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Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics
April 30, 2008
Over 600 Montana law enforcement representatives and their friends are carrying the torch for the Special Olympics of Montana. The relay began today, April 30, and had ten starting points around the state with hundreds carrying the Flame of Hope 2000 miles to the state Summer Games Opening Ceremonies in Great Falls. The arrival of the torch and lighting of the cauldron will officially begin the games.
Locally, the torch was being carried by the Lincoln County Sheriff's Department from the Idaho state line on Highway 2 through Libby (stopping at Torch Run sponsor CarQuest) and on to Happy's Inn. Flathead County law enforcement will continue the run from there to Kalispell on Thursday. Nearly 30 law enforcement agencies statewide are participating in the run.
The Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics is an annual international program that involves thousands of Law Enforcement personnel raising millions of dollars annually to benefit Special Olympics programs in the United States and abroad. The Torch Run is the largest grassroots fundraiser and public awareness vehicle for Special Olympics and has raised over $125 million since its inception in 1981.
The Torch Run began in Montana in 1985. Since then, thousands of dollars have been raised each year for Special Olympics Montana athletes. In 2007, the Montana LETR raised over $270,000 for Montana's athletes. This remarkable feat was accomplished through the statewide torch run, special event fundraisers, sponsorship pledges and Torch Run T-shirt sales.
For more information about the Montana Law Enforcement Torch Run, visit Montana LETR or call Shala White at 293-8353 or John Graham at 293-3879.
Information and following photos provided by Shala White
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