WICHITA – On November 3, Sedgwick County Sheriff Deputy Erin Wannow, along with over one-thousand officers from around the world traveled to Alberta, Canada for the 2011International Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics. The conference theme, “Reaching New Heights”, focused on building the foundation of fund raising and celebrating 30-years of the torch run.

The torch run was started in 1981 by officers from the Wichita Police Department, including retired Police Chief, Richard Lamunyon. The torch run, designed to raise funds for the Special Olympics Summer Games raised 300-dollars, its first year.

This year, Kansas raised over four hundred-thousand dollars and was awarded the Sapphire award of Excellence. Kansas has set a goal to earn the Emerald Award next year. To achieve this, Kansas must raise over five-hundred thousand dollars to meet this goal.

The Kansas Special Olympic program is focusing on new fund raising events for 2012 while maintaining our popular Polar Bear Plunge, Cops on Top of Doughnut Shops and local Torch Run.

This program has become a worldwide grassroots organization covering all 50 states and 43 countries. A grand total of $42.6 million dollars has been raised through various events to support this worthy cause.

Law Enforcement Officers from around the world have become the “Guardians of the Flame” and continue to keep the Torch lit in honor of Special Olympians.

This years conference ended with four hundred officers and Special Olympic Athletes running the torch through the streets of Calgary in a 5-K run.