Fifteen agencies from across Colorado participated in the 2017 Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics June 1.

Members of the Arvada Police Department and surrounding agencies including Westminster, Jefferson County, Wheat Ridge and Lakewood, run the 13.1 miles from 88th and Wadsworth to the Colorado State Capitol, where they were joined by members of the Douglas County Sheriffs Office, the Denver Police Department, Colorado State Patrol, the 18th Judicial District Attorneys Office and Special Olympics athletes and supporters, among others.

Each year, local law enforcement agencies gather as a community to raise awareness and money for Colorado Special Olympics with the Law Enforcement Torch Run. 

The mission of Special Olympics Colorado is to provide year-round training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities, giving them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage and experience joy. While sharing their gifts and skills, they experience friendship with other Special Olympics athletes and their families.

“Law Enforcement is our largest grassroots fundraisers and awareness volunteers,” said Jan Gordon, senior director for the law enforcement torch run with Special Olympics Colorado.

In 2015, $830,000 was raised for the over 22,000 Special Olympics athletes in Colorado.

This year, the goal is to raise one million dollars.

“It’s going to be a hard goal to reach,” Gordon said. “But we’re half way there.”

For Special Olympics athlete Jeffrey Steron, who will be competing in golf in the Special Olympics Summer games in Grand Junction later this month, the Torch Run is an important day because it bring the officers and athletes together.

“It’s really uplifting,” Steron said of the officers support.