A special time of the year sees state law enforcement officials again raising awareness and funds for Special Olympics.
Each year, officers from all agencies on the Olympic Peninsula participate in running the Special Olympics Torch from the Elwha area to Hood Canal in support of the Special Olympics of Washington Games held in June.
This year’s run is set for May 30 — where deputies, officers, troopers and more will carry the torch and pass it off to Kitsap County that evening.
As a fundraiser for the program, T-shirts that commemorate this year’s run are available for sale in all sizes for $20. Contact Ron Cameron at 360-417-2570 or rcameron@co.clallam.wa.us to purchase a shirt. All funds go to support the program and the money is dedicated to local Special Olympics teams the Orcas (Clallam County) and the Warriors (Jefferson County).
During the Clallam-Jefferson run, Clallam County Sheriff Bill Benedict plans to lead a group of walkers (open to all) with the torch from the Port Angeles City Pier to the old Rayonier Site.
There is also a walking section set aside near Sequim led by Sequim Police Chief Sheri Crain for those who would like to participate.
The final mile at Hood Canal will be led by Jefferson County Sheriff David Stanko before passing the torch on to Kitsap for their leg of the run.
Kitsap Officers take the torch to Pierce County, where the final leg is started to Joint Base Lewis McChord on June 1; that’s where the games are scheduled to begin the following day.
Chief Brian Smith of the Port Angeles Police Department and Chief Mike Evans of Port Townsend Police Department traditionally commit themselves to run a full leg with the torch for their commitment to the program.
The National Park Service, Clallam Bay Prison, Washington State Patrol, Sequim, Port Angeles, Jefferson County and Port Townsend Police are a few of the agencies that traditionally participate in the annual event.
