Home Happy News East County Law Enforcement Runs for Northern California Special Olympics

East County Law Enforcement Runs for Northern California Special Olympics

by ECT

On Tuesday morning, members of the Antioch Police Department and Brentwood Police Department participated in the 2014 Law Enforcement Torch Run for the Special Olympics Northern California. The goal is to raise awareness of Special Olympics and help raise funds.

The torch began Tuesday in Brentwood where officers ran five miles before it was handed off to Antioch Police who then tracked across Antioch down E 18th and handed it off to Pittsburg Police. The torch would then make its way through Concord, Pleasant Hill and eventually to UC Davis.  Each police department also helped raise funds by participating.

Kudos to all law enforcement agencies who are participating in the Torch Run.

For more information about upcoming events or the Special Olympics Northern California, visit sonc.org

 

The History of the Law Enforcement Torch Run
The Law Enforcement Torch Run® began in 1981 when Wichita, Kansas Police Chief Richard LaMunyon saw a need to raise awareness of and funds for Special Olympics. He conceived the idea of the Torch Run as a way to involve local law enforcement with their communities and Special Olympics, by running the torch in intrastate relays that converge at their local Summer Games.

Today
Now a global event, all 50 states and more than 35 foreign countries participate in the Law Enforcement Torch Run®, generating more than $34 million a year for Special Olympics Programs around the world. Since its inception in 1981, the Law Enforcement Torch Run® has raised more than $100,000,000 worldwide. It is the largest grass roots fundraising program and public awareness vehicle for Special Olympics.

Northern California
More than 3,000 law enforcement personnel from Federal, Military, State, County and Local agencies participate in the Torch Run campaign. Funds are raised year-round through a variety of activities, such as; Tip‐A‐Cops, Building Sits (Badges with Buckets), Polar Plunges, T‐Shirt Sales and many more. Every June, hundreds of law enforcement personnel carry the Special Olympics Torch – the Flame of Hope® through counties all over Northern California, culminating at the Opening Ceremonies of the state Summer Games. As one of the state’s largest grassroots fundraising efforts, the Law Enforcement Torch Run®has become the single largest supporter of Special Olympics.

City of Antioch and City of Brentwood contributed to the gallery of photographs

You may also like