26th ANNUAL LAW ENFORCEMENT TORCH RUN SET FOR TUESDAY

26^th ANNUAL LAW ENFORCEMENT TORCH RUN SET FOR TUESDAY

The law enforcement torch that winds its way around the state every year in a show of support for the Florida Special Olympics will reach Volusia County on Tuesday. On foot, by bicycle and in marked cars, law enforcement personnel from throughout Volusia County will be on hand Tuesday to shepherd the torch on its journey across the county. A grass-roots fundraiser for Special Olympics, Tuesday’s Torch Run is scheduled to get under way at 7:30 a.m. in East Volusia and 1:45 p.m. in West Volusia.

With the benefit run now in its 26^th year, the torch started this year’s journey on March 30 in Escambia County. By the time it makes its way to Kissimmee for the opening ceremonies on May 15 marking the start of the state summer games, it will have traveled some 1,500 miles to get there. Thousands of athletes, coaches, families, volunteers and sponsors are scheduled to be on-hand for the annual games, which were established to promote sports training and competition for people with developmental disabilities. The Law Enforcement Torch Run is designed to raise community awareness about the Special Olympics and also generates funds for the games through corporate donations and the sale of special commemorative items such as t-shirts, hats and pins. More than 3,000 law enforcement officers from across the state are expected to participate. The routes for Tuesday’s Torch Run in Volusia County are as follows:

East Volusia:

The torch will depart from the Ormond Beach Police Department, 170 W. Granada Blvd. at 7:30 a.m. and head south on U.S. 1. Along the way, the torch will make stops at the following locations:

- Publix parking lot, 1850 Ridgewood Ave., Holly Hill

- Krystal’s parking lot at Ridgewood Avenue and Mason Avenue in Daytona Beach

- South Daytona Police Department, 1672 S. Ridgewood Ave.

- Vermillion Furniture parking lot, 3350 S. Ridgewood Ave., Port Orange

- Chevron, 5800 S. Ridgewood Ave., Port Orange

(The group will travel in a vehicle convoy for the 5-mile trip to the New Smyrna Beach Police Department, 1400 N. Dixie Freeway, where the Torch Run will resume.)

- New Smyrna Beach Police Department

-The Torch Run will end at Hawks Park, 1108 S. Ridgewood Ave., Edgewater. A ceremony is scheduled to take place at around noon at the park.

West Volusia:

The torch will depart from the Four Towns Community Church, 181 Wolf Pack Run, Deltona, at 1:45 p.m. The group will make a short run to the Deltona High School gymnasium, where a brief ceremony and a basketball game with the athletes will follow.