Local schools recently donated to the upcoming Annual Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics, which will have Newtown Police Department members taking part to carry the "Flame of Hope" on Friday, June 10.

According to Special Olympics Connecticut, this is the 30th year for the Annual Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics. Communities across the state will take part as officers volunteer to serve as torchbearers, carrying the torch through towns and cities to raise awareness and funds to benefit Special Olympics athletes, and to inspire communities to accept and respect people of all abilities.

Newtown Police Department Sergeant Matthew Wood said Newtown officers would start their portion of the journey around 11:45 am, at Dodgingtown Market & Deli, 57 Dodgingtown Road, where Bethel Police Department members will hand them the torch.

Special Olympics Connecticut encourages spectators to come out and cheer for their local officers and show support for the Special Olympics movement. The three-day event will culminate at Southern Connecticut State University's Jess Dow Field, where a ceremonial cauldron lighting will be held during Opening Ceremonies for the 2016 Special Olympics Connecticut Summer Games.

More than 2,400 athletes and Unified Sport partners are expected to participate in Summer Games and compete in cycling, swimming, soccer, tennis, and track and field throughout the weekend at Southern Connecticut State University, 501 Crescent Avenue in New Haven, and Hamden Hall Athletic Fields, 225 Skiff Street in Hamden. The public is invited and encouraged to attend opening ceremonies and Summer Games events throughout the weekend at no cost, according to Special Olympics Connecticut.

"We run from Dodgingtown Market down Route 302, onto Glover Avenue, then make a left onto Queen Street. We then make a right onto Church Hill Road, where we end at the Blue Colony Diner. From there, they take the torch to Troop A in Southbury," Sergeant Wood said by e-mail.

There are ten Newtown Police Department members expected to complete this year's run, along with officers from the Garner Correctional Institute, Sgt Wood said.

"All of the schools in Newtown participated in the Adopt-A-Mile fundraising event for the torch run, and we raised over $2,000 for Special Olympics," said Sgt Wood.

School Resource Officer at Newtown Middle School (NMS) William Chapman said NMS, Hawley Elementary School, St Rose of Lima School, Head O' Meadow Elementary School and Middle Gate Elementary School all raised money to donate to the cause.

At NMS donations were collected as "votes" for teachers, and the winning teacher, Andrew Tammero, will have to wear a lion costume for a day as a result. NMS raised $500.

Hawley, St Rose, and Head O' Meadow, he said, raised $100 each.

Middle Gate raised $1,100, the first school to ever raise that much money for this event. Middle Gate PTA President Debbie DeBlasi said her school raised $700 last school year. This year when school paraprofessional Marlene Bucci asked the school PTA if the group would like to help raise money, despite a short window of time to do so, Ms DeBlasi said the group set a goal of raising $800.

"In basically two days we helped add to the amount raised by the teachers and staff by about $650 or more," said Ms DeBlasi, "for a grand total of $1,100. Our Middle Gate community is outstanding."

Ms DeBlasi said there will be 11 mile-marker signs representing Middle Gate School on the officers' route through town for the June 10 local run.

"We're very happy for all the support we receive for Special Olympics from the community," Officer Chapman said by e-mail. "This year's torch run is going to be one of the most well attended yet by local officers."