Law Enforcement Torch Run

It's official! New Zealand, home of the world’s 116th Law Enforcement Torch Run.

On Monday 23 November 2009, two legs of the Law Enforcement Torch Run® (LETR) set off, making their way through New Zealand to the Opening Ceremony of the 2009 Special Olympics National Summer Games in Palmerston North. These were Special Olympics New Zealand’s first official Torch Runs and marked the local beginning of a long-standing international relationship between Special Olympics and Law Enforcement.

The Torch Runs also made way for New Zealand to be officially named as home to the 116th Law Enforcement Torch Run in the world!

Mark Harrison, New Zealand Police Area Commander, is Chairman of the Law Enforcement Torch Run in New Zealand. He and a team of police officers will roll out awareness and fund-raising activities under the LETR umbrella. We’ll put information here as things are announced.

What's the LETR?

At the most basic level, the Torch Run is an actual running event where officers and athletes run the Special Olympics Flame of Hope to the Opening Ceremonies like they did for the 2009 National Summer Games. At a more extensive level, the Torch Run programme includes a variety of activities in addition to the actual Torch Run such as T-shirt or merchandise sales and donations or pledges for runners in the Torch Run. It can also include special events such as Polar Plunges, golf tournaments or other activities that have local appeal.

History of the LETR

The Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics began in 1981 when Wichita, Kansas (USA) Police Chief Richard LaMunyon saw a need to raise funds for and increase awareness of Special Olympics. Since then, more than 85,000 law enforcement officers in all 50 US states, all Canadian provinces and 46 countries have carried the Flame of Hope™ through the streets for their local, state or national Special Olympics Games. "What started in Kansas as a flicker of hope for Special Olympics has now become a roaring flame of stability for Special Olympics athletes worldwide," says LaMunyon.

LETR at the World Games

Every two years, law enforcement officers representing their state, province or nation’s Torch Run programme, make Final Leg Team which carries the Flame of Hope to the Opening Ceremonies of the Special Olympics World Games.