SpecialOlympicsNDJamestown, ND (KCSi-T.V. News) — Law enforcement personnel from across North Dakota will be lacing up their shoes and hitting the pavement as part of the Law Enforcement Torch Run ® (LETR) for Special Olympics North Dakota.

The Torch Run is organized by law enforcement throughout the state, as the largest grassroots fundraiser for Special Olympics. The goal is to help raise money and awareness for Special Olympics.

The 2013 Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics North Dakota will wrap up with North Dakota law enforcement running the torch into Opening Ceremonies for State Summer Games at 9:30 am at Fargo Davies High School on Saturday June 1, 2013.

All Torch Run ® and Special Olympic State Summer Games events are free and open to the public.

WHEN: Thursday May 30 – Saturday June 1

Thursday May 30, 2013:

Jamestown Torch Run ®: Begin at 9:00am at mile marker 262.

Valley City Torch Run ®: Meet Jamestown law enforcement at mile marker 276.

Bismarck Torch Run ®: Begin at 2:00pm at the Law Enforcement Center.

Friday May 31, 2013:

Minot Torch Run ®: Begin run at the Main Gate of the Minot Air Force Base at 9:00am ending with a lunch donated by Buffalo Wild Wings in the Buffalo Wild Wings parking lot.

Grand Forks Torch Run ®: Begin at 32nd Ave South and I-29 at noon and finish at Hillsboro, ND.

Williston Torch Run ®: Begins at 3:00pm. 1 mile run on University Drive.

Fargo Torch Run ®: Begin at corner of 52nd Ave South & 25th Street at 5:30pm, ending at Fargo Davies High School to be greeted by Special Olympics athletes, families, coaches and volunteers.

Saturday June 1, 2013:

Final Leg of Law Enforcement Torch Run ®: Fargo Davies High School during Opening Ceremonies for State Summer Games at 9:30am.

The mission of the LETR is to raise both dollars and awareness for Special Olympics. Nearly 100 agencies and 1,000 law enforcement volunteers work year-round in North Dakota to accomplish this goal; they are some of our greatest volunteers. All funds raised go towards supporting North Dakota’s year-round sports training and athletic competition.

North Dakota’s Law Enforcement Torch Run began in 1985. What began as a 30-mile run is now a multi-day relay that covers routes from Dickinson and Williston to the eastern part of the state ending at the State Summer Games in Fargo with 200+ runners. Now more than a run, the Torch Run is a campaign to raise awareness and funds for Special Olympics North Dakota.

The Law Enforcement Torch Run (LETR) is held in 50 states and in 35 countries raising $20 million annually and recruiting more than 15,000 law enforcement officers from all over the world. The original Torch Run began in Kansas in 1981 as a vision of Chief Richard LaMunyon who wanted to give his officers an opportunity to participate in something positive.