On May 30, officers from local law enforcement agencies within Hamilton County took part in a countywide Torch Run to raise awareness and funds for Special Olympics Indiana. Noblesville Police Dept. Lt. Bruce Barnes, who organizes the run, said it was the sixth consecutive year and seventh overall that the officers have held the rain-or-shine fundraiser.
“Our numbers have increased each year and this year was no exception. We had more than 75 runners and supporters this year,” he said.
Officers from the Carmel, Fishers, Noblesville and Westfield police departments along with the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Dept., Hamilton County Prosecutor’s Office and Indiana State Police participated in this fundraising effort. Each agency started at a designated location throughout the county based upon their respective jurisdiction, traveled approximately six to eight miles and simultaneously converged on downtown Noblesville where they were joined by local athletes of Special Olympics for a lap around the Noblesville Square.
“This is really no different than what we do on a daily basis here in Hamilton County as far as law enforcement. We take a great deal of pride in having tremendous working relationships with all of our law enforcement partners. The only difference in this case is that we shed our blue and brown uniforms and come together as a single unit representing one association – Hamilton County Law Enforcement,” Barnes said.
Barnes said the officers are still collecting donations and do not have a final amount of funds raised for Special Olympics Indiana.
Special Olympics athletes from Hamilton County and around the state participated in this year’s Special Olympics Summer Games in Terre Haute on June 6 through 8.