Yuma County officers carry Torch Run Flame of Hope for Special Olympics

More than 20 local, state and federal law enforcement agencies turned a countywide relay into a public show of support for Special Olympics athletes Thursday morning, carrying the Flame of Hope from San Luis to the Colorado River State Historic Park in Yuma.

The annual Torch Run marked its fifth year in the region and started at Main Street near the roundabout in San Luis at 6 a.m. on April 16, 2026. From there, runners followed Highway 95 to 1st Street in Yuma before finishing around 10 a.m. at 201 N. 4th Avenue, where the route ended at the park. The Yuma Police Department urged community members and local media to come out and cheer on the runners, underscoring that the event was meant to be visible as well as symbolic.

The payoff reaches far beyond the torch itself. Special Olympics Arizona says the Law Enforcement Torch Run is the largest fundraising vehicle for Special Olympics worldwide, and in Arizona law enforcement raises more than $1 million a year for athletes. The organization’s programs serve more than 18,500 athletes and Unified partners across the state, with the 2026 Summer Games set for May 7-9 in Glendale.

In Yuma, that support has a direct local impact. Yuma Police said the department raised more than $14,000 last year to help athletes and their chaperones travel to state and national competitions. The 2025 Yuma-area Torch Run brought in more than $2,500 for Special Olympics, showing that the relay is part of a broader fundraising push that repeats every year, not a one-day gesture.

The event also works as a trust-building exercise. Sgt. Christina Fernandez said the run helps families connect familiar uniforms and faces with a positive community event, while Special Olympics director Mike Burnett said it is a chance to show that law enforcement supports athletes all year long. Conner Smith, a longtime Yuma Special Olympics athlete, said the Torch Run brings support and awareness.

Special Olympics calls the effort Guardians of the Flame of Hope, a program built around awareness, fundraising, acceptance and inclusion. In Yuma County, the route from San Luis into the city has made that mission highly visible, bringing together agencies that have included the Yuma County Sheriff’s Office, Somerton Police Department, San Luis Police Department, Yuma Proving Ground and the Imperial County Sheriff’s Office in past years.