Local law enforcement officers lit the “Flame of Hope” and laced up their shoes on Monday to run the torch down to the 50th Annual Special Olympics in San Antonio.
Twenty-eight officers from Lubbock Police Department, Lubbock Sheriff’s Office, the Department of Public Safety, Frenship ISD, Lubbock Cooper ISD, began the run Tuesday morning in Lubbock to show their support for athletes participating in the event.
Big Springs Police Department will join them along the way.
“The run is very important because we bring a torch for West Texas for our athletes to open up the summer games,” said Michael Willis, an officer with Lubbock Police Department.
Throughout the year, the departments raised more than $24,000 dollars for the athletes.
“It’s really amazing to see the friendships grow, the volunteers numbers grow, and the amount of money they raise throughout the year for us keep growing,” said Ashley Peña, with the Lubbock division of the Special Olympics Texas.
The runners will arrive in San Antonio on Wednesday. The Special Olympics begin on May 2nd.
“We get to give back to those who are intellectually disabled and may have special needs in our community, and that’s the best part of this,” Willis said.
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