BY AMY BALTODANO
Hays Post

Local law enforcement officers will be out in force this weekend — to help promote and raise funds for Special Olympians.

The annual Law Enforcement Torch Run will be Saturday. This year, participants have the option of running or riding a bicycle.

“This one is just law enforcement, they just run carrying the torch,” said Roberta Oborny with the Ellis County Sheriff’s Office. “The torch goes to the destination in Wichita, from county to county.”

For their leg in the race, local runners and bikers will try to complete 12 miles and it will be divided among the Hays Police Department, Ellis County Sheriff’s Office, Court Services and their families. The event kicks off at 8 a.m. Saturday from 601 Main.

“The route will be traveling on Highway 183, heading to Schoenchen, and turn into Schoenchen and we’ll have drinks and stuff there when we’re done,” said Oborny.

She said they will not be interfering with traffic. “That’s why we went down 183 so that we’ll be on the east side of the road. We will have vehicles and they will be parked along the side of the road, to take people mile to mile, if they want to rest.”

The public is cautioned to be alert of the racers on the roadside.

“We’ll have an ending vehicle that will have a banner on it saying what we’re doing,” Oborny said. “It will probably take 2 to 3 hours.”

Most of the participants are doing 2 to 3 mile increments, but some will be make the whole 12 miles.

“We’ll have vehicles there to pick them up, take them a mile and let them rest and then they’ll run some more. It’s basically whatever they want to do and they can walk it.”

She said, “We contribute a lot to it, they like to see us come out and participate and we enjoy it.”

If you would like to donate, contact Oborny at (785) 625-1040.