More than 2000 Law Enforcement personnel from federal, military, state, county, and local agencies will be running the Special Olympics, “Flame of Hope,” through Northern California from June 13 through June 24. The event is part of the annual Law Enforcement Torch Run, a year-round fundraising campaign that will culminate at the Special Olympics Northern California summer games being held at the Santa Clara University.
The Special Olympics Northern California Summer Games is the premier sporting event of the year for Special Olympics. Special Olympics athletes from all over Northern California come together to compete against their peers in bocce, swimming, tennis or track & field. Over the course of the weekend, hundreds of Law Enforcement will come out to honor the athletes by participating in the Wall of Honor during the Parade of Athletes at Opening Ceremony and presenting awards on Saturday and Sunday.
Thursday, June 23 – The torch begins its journey in Watsonville at 08:00 AM before heading through Aptos, Capitola, Santa Cruz, and ending the day in Scotts Valley. Torch runners from the Scotts Valley Police Department will receive the torch on Thursday June 23rd at approximately 2:00 p.m. at the Scotts Valley Hilton Hotel. Scotts Valley Police personnel will proceed down Mt Hermon Rd. to Scotts Valley Dr., up Glenwood Dr. to the city limits. Contact Reserve Officer John Hohmann for additional information @ 831-252-4187.
The Flame of Hope will travel hundreds of miles throughout 32 counties. Every Officer running the torch has earned the right to be a “Guardian of the Flame” by raising funds and awareness for the Special Olympics.
As one of the state’s largest grass roots fundraising efforts, the Law Enforcement Torch Run has become the single largest supporter of Special Olympics Northern California, a free year-round sports program that serves almost 21,000 children and adults with developmental disabilities.
For additional information on the Torch Run visit; https://www.sonc.org/LETRtorchrun