TORCH Annual Special Olympics

The Special Olympics Torch Run is a cause that is incredibly profound and precious to every law enforcement officer in the state of Illinois and around the world. Senior Director of Development for LETR, George Peterson, is elated to highlight the Torch Run’s signature events and their ongoing efforts to support the Special Olympics each and every year.

“The Torch Run started in Illinois in 1986 and since then, we’ve raised over 65 million dollars for the Special Olympics through different fundraisers,” says Peterson. “The Torch Run is actually yearround fundraising with various signature events.” These events are vital to monetary support for the Special Olympics and include the Harley and a camper raffle, Dunkin Cop on a Rooftop, two different plane pulls, the Polar Plunge, big rig truck convoys, the Five-O race and the final leg interstate relay.

“The state is broken into about 24 different legs, or areas, then each area runs their own torch run where they pass their torch to the next group,” says Peterson. “Then it culminates in Bloomington-Normal for the final leg where we actually run the torches into Hancock Stadium for opening ceremonies to kick off the summer games.”

LETR had their first plane pull this year on April 29 at Lewis University and they have another event scheduled for September 30. “The one in Lewis was groups of ten and the one in O’Hare is a