Full Notification

The Special Olympics Torch Run will be coming through the City of Gardena on Friday, June 9th, 2017. Traffic will be affected along the route. The runners will only occupy the furthest right lane of the roadway during the run. The route will start at approximately 10:30 AM and is as follows:

Eastbound on MBB toward Van Ness
Southnbound on Van Ness toward Redondo Bch Blvd
Eastbound Redondo Bch Blvd toward Western Ave
Southbound Normandie Ave toward 162nd
Westbound 162nd toward Western. *Short stop at Gardena PD/City Hall for pictures
Southbound Western toward 190th where we will hand off to Torrance PD

In 1981, Chief Richard LaMunyon of the Wichita, Kansas Police Department created the Law Enforcement Torch Run as a way to involve his officers in the community by running a torch relay for their local Special Olympics. The first Torch Run involved six officers and they raised no money.

The Torch Run has grown to include more than 125 runs in 48 nations. Since its inception 35 years ago, more than 100,000 law enforcemnt officers have raised $500,000 million for th Special Olympics movement worldwide. The Torch Run has become the largest grassroots fundraiser for Special Olympics.

For more information on Torch Run and Special Olympics of Southern California, please visit: http://www.sosc.org/letr

We hope that you will be able to come out and CHEER US ON!