FARMINGTON — Local Special Olympians cheered Thursday as participants in the Law Enforcement Torch Run ran by them on Routes 2 and 4.

About 25 federal, state, county and local officers took turns carrying the torch along the 32-mile trek to Skowhegan to raise funds for Special Olympics Maine. 

The relay began at 8 a.m. at the Mt. Blue Shopping Plaza in Farmington and ended at the state police barracks in Skowhegan, about a four-hour jog.

Officers in Skowhegan will continue the run to Newport. From there, others will carry the torch to Orono for this weekend’s statewide summer games at the University of Maine, state Trooper Mathew Casavant, event organizer, said Thursday.

From his walker, Reggie Marcoux of Farmington chuckled as the runners passed, knowing that he and other Special Olympians will receive the same encouragement during this weekend’s games. Marcoux will participate in a wheelchair/walk event and plans to stay the whole weekend to cheer others on, he said.

The number of runners was down slightly from last year but enthusiasm was up as officers donned gray T-shirts and prepared for the run under cloudy skies. Members of the U.S. Border Patrol, state police, Franklin County Sheriff’s Department and area town police departments participated, along with some of their wives and children.

Two to four officers will complete legs of the run, Casavant said. Only officers will carry the torch, because “we’re the guardians of the flame,” he said.

Over $3,000 has been raised by area businesses participating in their Adopt a Mile program, he said. Several businesses have sponsored a mile of the run. Small signs dot the route acknowledging their $100 contribution. He expects other contributions will come in during the run.

Local businesses have donated pizza, snacks and water for the runners, he said.

State Trooper Reid Bond drove his cruiser ahead of the runners while Ron Morin drove a Torch Run van behind them.

Law enforcement raises funds and promotes awareness of individuals with intellectual disabilities from Jan. 1 to Dec. 31, but the Torch Run is the big day for law enforcement, Casavant previously said.

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