This September the Michigan Law Enforcement Torch Run® (LETR) and Special Olympics Michigan (SOMI) will once again bring communities together for Flame of Hope Week, a statewide celebration of inclusion, friendship and the transformative power of sport.
Taking place September 12–18, 2026, Flame of Hope Week invites law enforcement officers, corrections personnel, Special Olympics Michigan athletes, families, supporters and community members to lace up their running shoes and run shoulder-to-shoulder in support of more than 23,000 SOMI athletes.
Throughout the week, communities across Michigan will host local LETR Run Week events, giving participants the opportunity to run, walk, fundraise and celebrate alongside Special Olympics athletes. The events serve as a reminder that the relationship between law enforcement and Special Olympics goes far beyond a single event or fundraiser—it is a partnership built on trust, friendship and a shared commitment to creating communities where everyone belongs.
“The Flame of Hope represents so much more than a torch,” said Andrea Rachko, Senior Director of LETR & Events for Special Olympics Michigan. “It represents the friendships that have been built, the barriers that have been broken down and the belief that every person deserves the opportunity to be seen, valued and included. Flame of Hope Week gives us an incredible opportunity to bring that message directly into communities across Michigan.”
The Law Enforcement Torch Run is a year-round movement that brings law enforcement and Special Olympics athletes together through fundraising, awareness and community engagement. From Polar Plunges and Torch Runs to local events and statewide celebrations, LETR partners help provide opportunities for athletes to train, compete and experience the joy of sport.
For Special Olympics athletes, the relationship with law enforcement officers is often deeply personal.
Officers become coaches, teammates, friends, cheerleaders and champions. Athletes, in turn, help officers and communities see the power of inclusion in a very different way.
“Every time we carry the Flame of Hope, we are carrying the stories of thousands of athletes who have shown us what determination, courage and inclusion look like,” said John Card, Director of the Michigan Law Enforcement Torch Run. “Flame of Hope Week is our chance to bring that spirit into communities across the state and invite everyone to be part of something bigger than themselves.”
Community members are encouraged to join a Flame of Hope Week event in their area. Events will take place throughout Michigan and will welcome runners and walkers of all abilities.
Community members are encouraged to join a Flame of Hope Week event in their area. Events will take place throughout Michigan and will welcome runners and walkers of all abilities.
Participation is about more than crossing a finish line. Every step helps raise funds and awareness that support year-round Special Olympics Michigan programming, including sports training and athletic competition.
The week also provides an opportunity for law enforcement agencies, businesses, families and community organizations to build meaningful relationships with Special Olympics athletes while demonstrating what is possible when communities choose inclusion.
“Special Olympics Michigan athletes remind us every day that there is no limit to what can happen when people are given an opportunity and surrounded by people who believe in them,” said Tim Hileman, President & CEO of Special Olympics Michigan. “We are incredibly grateful to the men and women of law enforcement who continue to show up for our athletes—not just during Flame of Hope Week, but throughout the year. Together, they are helping create communities where everyone has the opportunity to belong.”
The Flame of Hope has long served as a symbol of the Special Olympics movement and the commitment to inclusion. During Flame of Hope Week, that symbol comes to life in communities throughout Michigan as officers and athletes run together, side by side.
To find a Flame of Hope Week event near you, register, or support a local participant, visit Special Olympics Michigan at www.somi.org.