Michigan State Police took off from Fort Wilkins State Park at noon yesterday to start the 24-hour Torch Run. The event kicks off the start of the Special Olympics season each year. Torch Run executive member Karla White says the event held its first Torch Run start in Copper Harbor over forty years ago. This year feels extra special at the start of the race with the return of 39 teams in the western Upper Peninsula.
Yeah, if anybody wants to volunteer, become a coach, anything with Area 39, we cover the Keweenaw all the way down to Gogebic. They can go to somi.org and you can look at the different areas and the new area directors’ contact info is in that and they can contact him anytime or they can reach out to the Special Public State Office. – Karla White, Executive Team Member, Michigan Special Olympics Law Enforcement Torch Run
There are three running teams including the groups from the Michigan Fraternal Order of Police and Michigan DNR. Teams run about 30 miles in sections before passing off to the next group, with each runner completing about five miles at a time before passing the torch. The entire journey will cover 720 miles from Fort Wilkins State Park to Belle Isle State Park.
Those interested in learning more about Special Olympics teams in the Western Upper Peninsula can find more information online.
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