The Law Enforcement Torch Run is the largest annual fundraising event benefiting Special Olympics Georgia. This signature event plays a significant role in Special Olympics Georgia's annual budget.

LETR involves more than 1,000 law enforcement officers from over 100 agencies who take part in a 1,000 mile, two week torch relay to pass the Special Olympics Georgia "Flame of Hope" across the State. All of the nine relays converge at Emory University (Atlanta) during the State Summer Games Opening Ceremony.

The Torch Run culminates at the State Summer Games as officers enter the Opening Ceremony with the Olympic Torch - the Flame of Hope. The Torch is passed to a Special Olympics athlete who lights the Olympic cauldron signifying "Let the games begin!"

The History
The Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics, the largest grassroots fundraising program for the cause, began in 1981 when Wichita, Kansas Police Chief Richard LaMunyon saw an urgent need to raise funds for and increase awareness of Special Olympics.

The idea for the Torch Run was to provide local law enforcement officers with an opportunity to volunteer with Special Olympics in the communities where the officers lived and worked. After three years of successful runs in Kansas, Chief LaMunyon presented his idea to the International Association of Chiefs of Police, which endorsed Special Olympics as its official charity through the Torch Run. Today, all 50 states and over 40 countries have their own versions of the Torch Run.

In Georgia, the first Torch Run was organized in 1987 and has grown into the largest fundraising effort of Special Olympics Georgia. The Torch Run has continued to reach new records in fundraising efforts each year. Along with being the premier fundraising event for SOGA, it is also the most visible event in Special Olympics.

Check out a story in the Gwinnett Daily Post about Lt. Jackie Beers running the final leg of the Torch Run in China in October.

For more information, please contact:

Allison Kaczenski, Law Enforcement Torch Run
770.414.9390, ext. 115

LETR Presenting Sponsor
Publix was founded in 1930 by Mr. George Jenkins in Winter Haven, Florida. It is the largest employee-owned supermarket chain in the United States with over 125,000 employees who work in stores in Florida, Georgia, South Carolina and Alabama. Publix is listed by Fortune Magazine as one of the "Most Admired Companies" (February 2001) and one of the "100 Best Companies to Work For" (Jan. 2000). Publix is the Presenting Sponsor of the Special Olympics Georgia Law Enforcement Torch Run. For several years, Publix and its associates have supported SOGA by selling paper torches at the cash register. There are more than 100 Publix Supermarkets in Georgia and our athletes are employeed at many of these stores.