Torch Run (LETR)

First to Carry the Torch and Still Lighting the Way!

The Kansas Law Enforcement Torch Run is celebrating 35 years of lighting the way for Special Olympics Kansas athletes!

It started with ONE agency, SIX runners and $20,000 in Kansas, and now has 85,000 officers and has raised over $500 million dollars for Special Olympics in 43 countries. Law Enforcement Officers around the world serve as Guardians of the Flame ensuring that the Flame of Hope is delivered to the Special Olympics Opening Ceremonies for local, state, national and world games around the world.

The Law Enforcement Torch Run (LETR) is a world-wide grassroots movement that raises awareness and millions of dollars for Special Olympics athletes. It started in Kansas, in 1979, simply by asking a police chief to attend an event. Police Chief Richard LaMunyon observed that Special Olympics transcended all boundaries—race, economic, and social status and mirrored the daily interactions of law enforcement. LaMunyon saw the similarities as an ideal match for his department to support and the rest, as they say, is history.
Read more here

Want to Get Involved?

Besides running hundreds of miles through Kansas and awarding medals at Special Olympics competitions, officers participate in fundraisers throughout the year to benefit the organization.
2016 lamunyon award
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