Annual law enforcement torch run in Merced raises awareness for Special Olympics

Merced County law enforcement officers took to the streets of Merced Thursday morning for the annual Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics Northern California.

Law enforcement officers and Special Olympics athletes ran the 3.5-mile route through the city carrying the torch known as the “Flame of Hope.”

Special Olympics Northern California provides children and adults with physical and intellectual disabilities the opportunity to participate in sports. Participants in this year’s run started at Bob Hart Square and ran west to R Street, where they turned north and headed to Olive Avenue.

The participants turned east and ran along Olive Avenue to M Street, where they made the turn and ran south back to West Main Street. Runners then headed east before ending the run back at Bob Hart Square.

According to Merced Police officer Krista Stokes, the annual run is held to raise money and awareness for Special Olympics Northern California.

“Northern California law enforcement is the largest financial contributor to Special Olympics, so the monies we raise allow athletes with developmental and physical disabilities to compete with no financial burden to their families,” Stokes said.

Stokes has been participating with Special Olympics since 2007 and has been the Merced County coordinator with Special Olympics Northern California for about three years.

According to Stokes, anytime athletes compete it can levy a huge expense on their families, in part because the cost of equipment can skyrocket for athletes with any type of disability.

“Programs like Special Olympics allow athletes with special disabilities to compete at no cost to the family, which is a really big deal,” said Stokes. “It helps with their self-esteem, it helps with their development, it helps really just allow them to do something that everybody else gets to do on a daily basis that we sometimes take for granted.

According to Stokes, Special Olympics Northern California continues to accept donations, and every $500 raised pays for a Special Olympics athlete’s training and competitive season.