Law Enforcement Torch Run For Special Olympics Is Friday In The HV

HUDSON VALLEY, NY — Every year, the Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics New York brings together nearly 6,000 police and peace officers from close to 500 agencies that carries the Flame of Hope across the state — including a relay in the Hudson Valley.

Friday 2022 marks 36 years of Westchester law enforcement support for the Special Olympics NY.

Officers and agencies throughout Rockland, Westchester and Putnam counties organize, promote and participate in the run, which has several legs. And they meet for the finale event at the Fractoria in Peekskill.

The first set of runners and escorts muster in New Rochelle at 7:45 a.m. for the Westchester East leg, and will pass the torch through Larchmont, Mamaroneck and White Plains.

Starting in Yonkers at 8 a.m., the West leg of the relay will pass through Yonkers, Mount Vernon, Bronxville, Tuckahoe, Eastchester and Scarsdale to White Plains.

Rockland, starting at the Brinks Law Enforcement Memorial, begins its run at 11:15 a.m. Putnam begins its leg at the Garrison Volunteer Firehouse at 1:30 p.m. and Westchester North starts at the Annsville Circle in Cortlandt at 3 p.m.

Both southern Westchester legs will converge in White Plains at the Westchester County Center at about 11:45 a.m. and run mostly on Route 119 to Tarrytown. Rockland will join New York State Police runners across the bridge and converge with Westchester runners and escorts at the state police barracks in Tarrytown.

After lunch, the torch will then be carried north on Route 9 to Charles Point.

The Putnam leg of the run will converge with the Westchester–north leg at Annsville Circle, and runners will carry the torch to Charles Point.

The Torch Run is Special Olympics’ largest grassroots fundraiser and public awareness event. In New York, it generates more than $2 million in contributions annually.

Officials said the money helps the organization provide year-round sports training and athletic competition for children and adults with intellectual disabilities, giving them 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.

It also exposes more than three million state residents to the message of hope and inspiration delivered by competitive athletes and their law enforcement champions.