LITH Special Olympics Athlete Joins Local Officers in Annual Torch Run

For 23 years, James William of Lake in the Hills, a Special Olympics athlete, has ran alongside local law enforcement officers in the annual Torch Run.

This year is no exception.

“He really has been with us since the beginning,” said officer Chris Filippini of the Algonquin Police Department. “He will run through a portion of Algonquin with us (on Sunday).”

Around 50 officers from law enforcement agencies throughout McHenry County will take part in the Special Olympics Law Enforcement Torch Run this Sunday to help support and raise awareness for Special Olympics.

In total, 3,000 officers representing law enforcement agencies across the state will carry the “Flame of Hope” torch nearly 1,500 miles and through thousands of Illinois communities.

There are 23 different legs to the race, which endins in Normal, Ill.—the site for the opening ceremonies of the Special Olympics. The Law Enforcement Torch Run is the single largest year-round fundraising event benefiting Special Olympics Illinois.

McHenry County law enforcement officers will take their turns carrying the torch about 18 miles along a route from Barrington Hills to McHenry on Sunday.

The Algonquin Police Department will be running various legs and will meet up with Williams near the Algonquin Town Center around 8:30 a.m. to 8:40 a.m. to run a stretch together, Filippini said. Around seven Algonquin officers will be participating in this year’s Torch Run and running varying distances. 

Lake in the Hills Police Department officers will be passed the torch around 9:28 a.m. and will run a 1.2-mile stretch from Route 31 and Virginia Road and Route 31 and Rakow Road, said officer Chris Miller of the Lake in the Hills Police Department. Six Lake in the Hills officers are participating in this year’s run.

Over the past 23 years, the McHenry County group of law enforcement agencies have raised $750,000. In addition to the LITH and Algonquin police departments, the group includes officers from Island Lake Police Department, Cary Police Department, Crystal Lake Pplice Department and the McHenry County Sheriff’s Office.

Expect Delay, Drive With Caution Sunday Morning

With the Torch Run as well as the Lake in the Hills Triathlon taking place Sunday morning, motorists should expect delays in the area and should drive with caution.

The Torch Run is expected to be in the area of Algonquin and Lake in the Hills between 8:30 and 9:30 a.m. The Lake in the Hills Triathlon will start at 6:30 a.m.