Members of the Eugene Police Department and other local law enforcement agencies will be participating in the Law Enforcement Torch Run tomorrow, July 8, carrying the Special Olympics Torch from Eugene to Corvallis to help kick off this weekend's Summer Games. The Torch Run will begin at Valley River Center at 8:00 a.m. and conclude in festivities at the Benton County Courthouse in Corvallis in the afternoon.

The Law Enforcement Torch Run kicks off each year's Special Olympics Summer Games, which this year will be held in Corvallis this weekend, July 9 and 10, with law enforcement officers assisting and presenting awards.

In addition to being a show of support for Special Olympics and a great photo opportunity for local media, the Torch Run also raises funds for the Special Olympics organization. Participating officers have worked to solicit donations for the run and will have Torch Run t-shirts available for sale to interested community members. Other Eugene Police fundraising efforts for Special Olympics include the May Tip-A-Cop event and the ongoing sales of raffle tickets for a Harley-Davidson motorcycle as well as Eugene Police products. Eugene Police employees raise tens of thousands of dollars for Special Olympics each year.

For more information about the run, times, and routes, please contact Kerry Delf at 682-5197. For more information about the Benton County portion of the run and festivities, please contact the Corvallis Police Department. For information about the Special Olympics Summer Games, call Linda Kirkland at (503) 248-0600.