DELAWARE – Nearly 600 law enforcement officers from across Delaware will lace up their running shoes next week for the 40th Annual Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics Delaware.
The three-day event, scheduled for June 10-12, will carry the Flame of Hope from Fenwick Island to Newark and culminate at the opening ceremony of the 2026 Special Olympics Delaware Summer Games.
Organizers say the Torch Run serves as a symbol of law enforcement's support for individuals with intellectual disabilities while raising awareness and funding for Special Olympics programs across the state. Since its inception, the Delaware Torch Run has generated more than $13 million to support year-round training and competition opportunities for athletes.
The event begins Wednesday with separate upstate and downstate routes. The downstate leg starts in Fenwick Island at 3:30 p.m. and travels north to the Rehoboth Beach Bandstand for a ceremony at 7 p.m., followed by a one-mile run to Grove Park. Earlier in the day, the upstate route will begin at the New Castle County Police Department before traveling through Wilmington and toward Delaware State Police Troop 6.
On Thursday, runners from multiple routes will converge in Dover for a ceremony at Legislative Mall scheduled for 1:45 p.m. Participants will include law enforcement officers, Special Olympics athletes and state lawmakers.
The final leg takes place Friday when the torch departs Newark Shopping Center at 2:30 p.m. and makes its way to the Bob Carpenter Center at the University of Delaware. Organizers expect the torch to arrive in time for the Summer Games opening ceremony, which is scheduled to begin around 4 p.m.
Special Olympics Delaware provides year-round training and competition in 16 sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities. Officials say the Torch Run remains one of the organization's most visible traditions, bringing together athletes, officers and communities in support of inclusion and opportunity.
