The Special Olympics Law Enforcement Torch Run will hold a rally in Blue Back Square in West Hartford on June 6, at 5 p.m.

Submitted

The Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics Connecticut will be coming to Blue Black Square in West Hartford on Thursday, June 6 at 5 p.m. when local officers and Special Olympics athletes will arrive, carrying the Torch with its “Flame of Hope,” as part of a three-day annual Run throughout the state to raise awareness of Special Olympics’ year-round sports, health and fitness programs, and inspire inclusion and acceptance for people of all abilities.

An end-of-day Rally will take place in the center of Blue Black Square that will feature music and special guests including Renee DiNino from iHeart Radio Connecticut.

Officers from the West Hartford, Hartford and Farmington Police Departments, Connecticut State Police and other local law enforcement agencies, and Special Olympics Connecticut athletes from the area will come together for the Rally and the public is also encouraged to attend this free event.

The Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics Connecticut is a year-round effort carried out by officers who support local athletes by organizing fundraisers, raising awareness about Special Olympics in their communities and serving as volunteers at events. Active and retired officers representing municipal departments, state police and correction facilities, military police and federal employees, and college and university public safety officers get involved.

In addition, more than 1,500 officers participate in an annual, three-day Torch Run which takes place the Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday leading up to the Special Olympics Connecticut Summer Games. These officers carry the Special Olympics torch, with its “Flame of Hope,” more than 530 miles, passing it from town to town.

Officers who participate in the final leg of the Torch Run form a procession and bring the torch onto the field where the Summer Games opening ceremonies are held. The flame is used to light a large cauldron, signifying the vitality and spirit Special Olympics athletes possess – and the start of Summer Games weekend.

This year’s Torch Run will take place on Wednesday, June 5, Thursday, June 6, and Friday, June 7. The start and end locations for the Torch Run legs are:

Wednesday, June 6:
Leg 1 – Old Lyme to Ledyard
Let 2 – Putnam to Ledyard

Thursday, June 7:
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

Friday, June 8:
Leg 7 – Newington to New Haven
Leg 8 – Chester to New Haven
Leg 9 – New Milford to Bethany
Leg 9a – Ridgefield and Wilton
Leg 9b – Monroe to New Haven
Leg 10 – Greenwich to New Haven

To view the routes and schedules for each Leg and see when the Torch Run will be passing through your town, visit soct.org.

Sponsors of the Law Enforcement Torch Run include (Platinum Sponsors) Dream Ride, Whelen Engineering, WWE, and (Gold Sponsors) Adams Hometown Markets/IGA Hometown Supermarkets and Papa’s Dodge.

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