Special Olympics Mission

SKOWHEGAN — As part of the Maine Special Olympics mission, Skowhegan Police Department this year will join the Law Enforcement Torch Run to raise money for the project.

Police Chief Mike Emmons said this is the first year the Skowhegan Police Department sent an officer, Ed Toulouse, to the Maine Special Olympics Kick Off Conference in Wells.

“This is also the first year that the run has actually come through Skowhegan,” the chief said. “Our leg of the torch run will be on Friday June 6, beginning at 7 a.m. at the Maine State Police Troop C barracks on West Front Street, onto Island Avenue, down Water Street to Route 2 to the Pittsfield line.”

Each year, nearly 700 members of Maine law enforcement run approximately 900 miles carrying the Flame of Hope. The state is divided into fifteen sections. Each Leg covers a portion of the state and the run concludes on Friday evening at the state’s summer games opening ceremonies.

Officers either obtain pledges and/or hold a variety of other fundraising events.

In Skowhegan, officers will raise funds for the Fueling the Dreams fundraiser by pumping gas at the Skowhegan Irving Maineway from about 8 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday May 31.

“Our mission is to provide year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities,” Emmons said.

To date, Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics Maine has raised over $1 million, he said.