Park Forest Police Department is participating in the Special Olympics Illinois Torch Run on Wednesday. In addition to the run, PFPD will unveil the newest squad car with a "special" theme.
The Torch Run is the single largest year-round fundraising movement benefiting Special Olympics Illinois. According to its official website, The Torch Run has two goals – to raise money and gain awareness for the athletes participating in Special Olympics Illinois.
The run began in Chicago on Tuesday and will continue through various Chicago suburbs and cities, and towns along the route to Bloomington, Illinois, where the games will be held this year on Friday. The Summer Games is a three-day event held June 9-11 in Bloomington-Normal and includes more than 3,000 athletes, 1,000 coaches, and approximately 43 Unified partners.
Around 9 a.m. on Wednesday, June 7, the torch will be passed off from the Matteson Police Department and Richton Park Police Department at the 7-Eleven store, 425 Sauk Trail in Park Forest.
Park Forest Officers will then carry the torch north on Lakewood to Orchard Drive, south on Orchard to Main Street, east on Main Street through Downtown Park Forest, and then north on Western Avenue to Rt. 30, where the torch will be handed to Officers from the Olympia Fields Police Department.
Last month, Park Forest Police Department announced that it raised over $3,000 for Special Olympics Illinois during the Cop on a Rooftop campaign.