On May 29, the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office ran it’s leg in the annual Maryland Law Enforcement Torch Run.  Corporal David Alexander with the Sheriff’s Office has been organizing the Torch Run in St. Mary’s County for the last seven years.  This is St. Mary’s County’s tenth year participating in the run.  Participants from both the community and the Law Enforcement family joined in the event. So far St. Mary’s County has raised $4500 to benefit Special Olympics.
 
Special Olympics was founded in 1968 by Eunice Mary Kennedy Shriver. In 1981 Wichita, Kansas Police Department held the first Law Enforcement Torch run with only 6 officers.  Today 50 states and 40 countries have their own version of the torch run. Last year 21 million dollars was raised to benefit Special Olympics and there were more than 85,000 participants. 
 
The Maryland Law Enforcement Torch Run began in 1986 with 500 officers participating. That year they raised $5,000. The Maryland Torch Run is one of the largest in the country and is always among the top 20 in funds raised. In 2008, Maryland was top fundraiser worldwide contributing 2 million dollars.
 
According to the Special Olympics website, “The Torch Run is Special Olympics’ largest grass-roots fundraiser and public awareness vehicle.”