The Statewide Law Enforcement Torch Run® for Special Olympics Missouri will include northern Missouri locations such as Trenton, Gallatin, Chillicothe, Cameron, and Brookfield early next week. Law Enforcement officers will be running the torch to raise awareness for Special Olympics Missouri and the 2012 State Summer Games.

Those games will be held at University of Missouri in Columbia May 29th through June 1st. The culmination of the Torch Run the lighting of the Flame of Hope - takes place during Opening Ceremonies at the Carnahan Quad at 7:30 pm on May 29th.

More than 15,000 athletes with mental disabilities participate in 21 Olympic-type sports.

At Trenton, there are 40 to 50 participants representing a local organization known as the DAWGS (Disabled Athletes with Grundy Support).

More than 1,000 runners from 125 law enforcement agencies participate in the Torch Run; completing 42 different routes, covering more than 1,000 miles in Missouri.

On Monday (May 21st), Crossroads Correctional Center is organizing torch runs at 9 am in Cameron, at 10:30 in Gallatin, and at 11 in Trenton. At 1 o’clock Monday, a torch run in Chillicothe is listed from the women’s prison to WalMart. Brookfield Police are organizing a torch run for Tuesday morning at 8:30.

Nearly 200 Missouri Law Enforcement Agencies are attempting to raise over two point one million dollars this year through various fundraising initiatives including the Polar Plunge; selling Torch Run T-shirts and holding special events.

Shop'n Save is the Presenting Sponsor of Missouri’s Torch Run, providing year-round fundraising assistance. In 2011, they contributed more than $485,000 to SOMO. Missouri benefits from the fundraising efforts to more than 30 stores.