Run With The Cops In Sunday Torch Run Fundraiser

If you want to help Niles Police support Special Olympics, there are several things you can do around Sunday morning's special event, the Law Enforcement Torch Run for Illinois Special Olympics. 

Niles Police will pick up the "Flame of Hope" from Glenview police at Milwaukee and Greenwood, run through Niles with it and then at Dempster and Waukegan, turn it over to Morton Grove, who will take it further on its journey to the start of the Illinois Special Olympics in Bloomington-Normal.

You can:

• Cheer on the runners.
• Purchase a cap or t-shirt (details below).
• Run as an individual or family; runners are asked to raise $100.
• Donate money.

Here is information from the Niles Police Department:

Members of the Niles Police Department will be participating in the “25th Annual Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics” scheduled for Sunday June 5, 2010. The Torch run, the single largest year-round fundraising vehicle which benefits Special Olympics, is one of the biggest fundraising events in the world.  In 2010 the participants of the Torch run raised more than $2.9 million. Currently more than 3,000 officers, friends and family members from every branch of law enforcement carry the “Flame of Hope nearly 1,500 miles, running through thousands of Illinois communities via 23 different legs (routes) to its final destination – the opening Ceremonies of the Special Olympic Illinois Summer Games in Bloomington-Normal.

Members of the Niles Police Department will be running in our leg of the run starting at about 10:00 A.M. Niles Participants will be running southbound on Milwaukee Avenue from Greenwood Avenue to Dempster Street and then eastbound on Dempster Street to Waukegan Road, approximately 2.76 miles.

The pace will be slow with the Illinois State Police providing an escort for the runners. Each runner will receive a free T-shirt for his or her participation in the run. Each runner is asked to raise at least $100.00 for the event.

A limited number of T-shirts and hats are available for a small charitable contribution of $15.00 each at the Niles Police Department. If anyone would like to purchase a hat or t-shirt please contact Sgt. Eric Lambrechts at 847-588-6566.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

The annual intrastate relay and its various fundraising projects have two goals: to raise money and to gain awareness for the athletes who participate in Special Olympics Illinois. The Law Enforcement Torch Run® has raised more than $22.025 million over 25 years while increasing awareness of Special Olympics Illinois athletes and their accomplishments.

History of the Torch Run

The Law Enforcement Torch Run® began in Illinois in 1986. That first year, fewer than 100 runners carried the torch along five legs: North (starting in South Beloit), South (starting in Cairo), West (starting in Quincy), East (starting in Danville) and the city of Chicago.

Illinois’ first Torch Run raised just $14,039.93, but the seed was planted for future growth. The Torch Run raised $500,000 in Illinois in 1997. Illinois easily surpassed the $1 million mark in 2002 and first raised more than $2 million in 2006.