SOMO News

JEFFERSON CITY – The Statewide Law Enforcement Torch Run® for Special Olympics Missouri (SOMO), founded by the Missouri Police Chiefs Association (MPCA) 37 years ago, will begin on May 22 and will continue through Friday, June 2. 

Law Enforcement officers from around the state will be running the torch to raise awareness for SOMO and the 2023 State Summer Games. The State Summer Games will be held in Columbia, June 2-4. The culmination of the Torch Run – the lighting of the Flame of Hope – will take place during the Opening Ceremony, which is scheduled for Friday, June 2 at 7 p.m. at the MizzouRec on the campus of the University of Missouri. 

More than 850 runners from 102 agencies from across the state will participate in the 2023 Torch Run. These runners will complete 36 different routes and cover close to 900 miles across Missouri!

The 2023 Torch Run route schedule is linked below. If you have questions or would like more information regarding the Law Enforcement Torch Run®, please visit www.somo.org/letr or contact Crystal Schuster, Sr. Director of Community Development, at cschuster@somo.org or (573) 469-7839.  

The Law Enforcement Torch Run® for Special Olympics is an annual event. The guiding purpose of the event is to raise funds and awareness for SOMO. Special Olympics is law enforcement’s charity of choice, not only in Missouri, but worldwide.  

Missouri Law Enforcement agencies regularly raise more than $1 million per year for SOMO through various fundraising initiatives including the Polar Plunge®, selling Torch Run T-shirts and organizing special events such as the World’s Largest Truck Convoy® and Tip-A-Cop® events.  

“Our law enforcement has been the most amazing supporters of SOMO for many years – and their unending efforts in raising funds for our athletes is like nothing else I’ve ever seen,” Schuster said. “It’s amazing to watch these officers from across the state take time out of their busy schedules to raise awareness for our SOMO athletes. They are some of the most selfless people I have ever met, and I am forever grateful for all they do!”

In 2022, Missouri’s Torch Run was recognized as No. 8 in the world based on gross dollars raised. 133 law enforcement agencies across the state raised more than $1.4 million. 

For the most up-to-date information on the State Summer Games, make sure you download the mobile app! To download, you can either scan the QR code below OR search the Apple or Google Play app stores and search for “Whova.” You’ll need an email to sign up. Once you have downloaded the Whova app, search for “State Summer Games 2023” and connect to our event. Use the invitation code: StateSummerGames2023

Thank you so much to our sponsors! 

Statewide Partners: Law Enforcement Torch Run (LETR), Missouri Association of Student Councils (MASC), Diamond Pet Foods, Veterans United Home Loans, Knights of Columbus, University of Missouri System, University of Missouri and MU Health Care.