Law enforcement officers statewide will run this week to raise awareness and funds for Special Olympics Michigan.

More than 2,000 Michigan law enforcement officials will participate all week in local races and a five-day-long marathon. The Michigan Law Enforcement Torch Run has supported the Special Olympics for 20 years.

The featured event is a nonstop relay marathon covering 700 miles from Copper Harbor to Sterling Heights. Each runner will carry a torch that is passed to the next runner every five miles on a continuous basis for 24 hours a day.

Highlights of the marathon include crossing the Mackinac Bridge and running up the steps of the Capitol.

There are also many local community races planned in both the upper and lower peninsulas.

The marathon will reach Lansing around midnight on Thursday and run through Okemos and Williamston soon after.

For more information or to donate to Special Olympics, call 1-800-644-6404.

Benita Mehta