Usually, when police officers are running they are training or chasing down a suspect. But on Thursday, May 17 local Pell City Police officers and other local law enforcement will participate in the Alabama Law Enforcement Torch Run to raise money and bring awareness to the Alabama Special Olympics.

Law enforcement from Pell City Police Department (PCPD), St. Clair County Sheriff’s Office, and the St. Clair County Attorney’s Office will participate in the one-mile run that begins at 9:45 a.m. at 2^nd Avenue North and 19th Street, continuing down Cogswell Avenue and ending in front of Pell City City Hall.

“This is the first time Pell City will participate,” Pell City Police Chief Paul Irwin stated. “I did the Torch Run when I was in Birmingham and it is a great way to raise awareness for the Special Olympics.”

Police officers from cities all across Alabama will be participating in the Torch Run prior to the opening ceremony of the Alabama Special Olympics in Troy. Cities on the route through Alabama include Anniston, Irondale, Gardendale, Birmingham, Huntsville, Decatur, Hartselle, Pelham, Montgomery, and Troy.

The PCPD is selling t-shirts for $15 to participants and a portion of those proceeds benefit the Alabama Special Olympics. 

The Alabama Special Olympics opening ceremony is scheduled for May 18-20 at the Troy University Trojan Arena and the USA Special Olympics are July 1-6 in Seattle, Washington.

According to their website, specialolympicsalabama.com, the mission of Special Olympics is to provide year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities, giving them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy and participate in a sharing of gifts, skills and friendship with their families, other Special Olympics athletes and the community.