Ohio’s 2008 Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics begins at 9:00 a.m. Wednesday June 25 at the Police Memorial, 311 Ezzard Charles Drive.  Participants and supporters will hold a brief ceremony before setting off to carry the torch on the first part of the run, 16 miles to the Springdale Police Department, 12105 Lawnview Avenue.  Their route will proceed north from the Police Memorial on Central Parkway, over Ludlow Avenue to Spring Grove Avenue, to Vine Street, and then north along Springfield Pike to Lawnview Avenue. 

Law enforcement supporters will also set out from Athens, Marietta, Ashtabula, Cleveland and Toledo to carry the Flame of Hope to Columbus for the June 27 opening of Ohio’s Special Olympics summer games on the campus of Ohio State University.

From its origins in 1981 with the Wichita, Kansas Police Department, the Law Enforcement Torch Run has spread to all 50 states and 35 countries around the world as a way to raise money and awareness for Special Olympics.  It is a grassroots, all-volunteer effort, and all money raised is used to support expenses like lodging and meals for Special Olympics participants.  Last year, more than 1100 members of law enforcement in Ohio raised $340,000.  Worldwide, the Torch Run raised $30 million for Special Olympics in 2007.