The Law Enforcement Torch Run® for Special Olympics North Carolina (NC LETR) received a diamond level of excellence award by the Law Enforcement Torch Run (LETR) International Executive Council for raising $1.8 million during the 2023 campaign year.
The award was presented during the 2023 LETR International Conference, held in San Antonio, Texas, Nov. 13-16. The conference joined nearly 1,000 law enforcement personnel from around the world, representing the LETR leadership of their respective Special Olympics Programs. NC LETR had a delegation of 30 members, which included agency leaders, law enforcement officers, NC LETR Athlete Ambassadors and Special Olympics North Carolina (SONC) staff.
LETR is the largest grassroots public awareness and fundraising campaign for Special Olympics with more than 100,000 law enforcement participants around the world. Since its inception in 1981, LETR has raised over $1 billion and changed millions of attitudes.
NC LETR involves more than 2,000 law enforcement officers representing more than 200 agencies. In addition to raising funds through collecting sponsorships, T-shirt and hat donations and unique fundraising events, the officers take part in relays spanning over 2,000 miles in 30 days to pass the Flame of Hope across the state, culminating in the lighting of the cauldron to officially open the Special Olympics North Carolina Summer Games in Raleigh. About the Law Enforcement Torch Run® for Special Olympics North Carolina
The Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics is an international fundraising campaign for Special Olympics. Special Olympics provides year-round sports training and competition for more than 5.4 million children and adults around the world who have intellectual disabilities. Nearly 45,000 athletes participate in Special Olympics in North Carolina, making it one of the largest Special Olympics programs in the world.
The Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics North Carolina is officially endorsed by the International Association of Chiefs of Police, the North Carolina Association of Chiefs of Police, the National Sheriff's Association, the North Carolina Sheriff's Association, the International Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators, the National Association of School Resource Officers, the North Carolina Association of School Resource Officers, the North Carolina Department of Justice, the North Carolina Department of Public Safety and the North Carolina Department of Adult Correction.
About Special Olympics North Carolina
Since 1968, the organization has used the transformative power of sports to improve the lives of children and adults with intellectual disabilities. Nearly 45,000 athletes in North Carolina inspire thousands of coaches, sports officials, local program committee members and event organizers involved in Special Olympics statewide. SONC offers year-round training and competition in 20 Olympic-type sports on local and state levels as well as health and wellness initiatives to improve the health status and increase access to community health resources for individuals with intellectual disabilities. Youth become agents of change through Unified Champion Schools, an education and sports-based program created by Special Olympics to build an inclusive environment among youth with and without intellectual disabilities as well as empower them to become youth leaders and create change in their community. Engage with us on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and YouTube.