STURGIS, S.D. – The South Dakota Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics made a stop in Sturgis Thursday.
The South Dakota Law Enforcement Torch Run is a grassroots fundraising campaign to raise awareness and funds for the Special Olympics South Dakota programs.
The Law Enforcement Torch Run 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 Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics is the movement’s largest grass-roots fundraiser and public awareness vehicle.
The Torch Run started in South Dakota in 1988, with two runs. One was a run from Mt. Rushmore to Rapid City and the other was from Sioux Falls to Vermillion. Almost $1,000.00 was raised. Today, over half a million dollars is raised.
In Sturgis, the run stopped at Harley Davidson Plaza, where Sturgis Council President Kevin Forrester delivered the proclamation declaring this week “Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics Week.” Members of the Sturgis Police Department helped escort the group of runners.
Special Olympics South Dakota has more than 2,700 participating Special Olympics athletes. The monies raised each year by the Torch Run go directly to the Special Olympics South Dakota State office to be used only within our state to benefit our athletes.
This year’s Special Olympics games are taking place in Spearfish this weekend.
