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DeKalb-area police to participate in Torch Run

June 5, 2013

Logo of the Illinois Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special OlympicsMembers of local law enforcement agencies will participate in the Illinois Law Enforcement Torch Run at 3 p.m. Sunday, June 9.

The run begins at the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department, 150 N. Main St. in Sycamore.

DeKalb-area participants include representatives from the NIU, DeKalb and Sycamore police departments and the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department who will carry the “Flame of Hope” through their shared hometowns.

Comprised of 23 separate legs across the state, and drawing the participation of nearly 3,000 law enforcement officers, the Torch Run is Illinois’ largest year-round effort to fund raise for Special Olympics Illinois (SOI). The inaugural statewide run in 1986 raised $16,000; it has continued to prosper, raising more than $2.97 million last year, making it the second-highest grossing program in the world.

This year’s run will culminate Friday, June 14, with the lighting of the cauldron at Illinois State University’s Hancock Stadium, signaling the opening of the SOI Summer Games that will conclude Sunday, June 16.

Logo of the Special Olympics IllinoisSunday’s route is as follows:

  • The run will start at the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department and head westbound on Route 64, turn left onto Somonauk Road and then westbound on Elm Street to pass the Sycamore Police Department, 535 DeKalb Ave.
  • Runners then proceed toward DeKalb on Route 23 to Hopkins Park, where law enforcement participants will be joined by local athletes of the Special Olympics.
  • The run then continues on the bike path in Hopkins Park so that the athletes can participate without having to run on the roadway.
  • Runners will cross Hillcrest Drive to First Street and then follow the bike path along the Kishwaukee River to Lucinda Avenue, turning westbound on Lucinda Avenue to pass the NIU Police Department.
  • Participants then will turn left onto Normal Road, left onto Lincoln Highway and finally right onto Fourth Street to finish at the DeKalb Police Department, 200 S. Fourth St.

For more information, call Rockford Police Lt. Patrick Hoey at (815) 987-5744.