Flame of Hope Will Travel Through Cheshire

A number of Cheshire police officers will take up the torch for Special Olympics on Friday afternoon to carry the symbol of the summer games through town. 

Lt. James Fasano, police department spokesman, said quite a few officers will escort the torch through town as part of its 530- mile route to New Haven.

The torch is scheduled to be carried into Cheshire about 12:30 p.m. from Southington along Route 10.  The route then turns right at Schoolhouse Road on its way to Buzzuto's at 400 Industrial Ave. for the runners' lunch break. The run will then continue down Route 10 before being handed off to runners about 3 p.m. in Hamden. (The full route and times can be seen on the attached pdf.)

Bozzuto's is a key sponsor of Special Olympics through their Adams Hometown Markets and IGA Hometown Supermarkets.

The Law Enforcement Torch Run is Special Olympics’ single largest grassroots fundraiser and public awareness program, according to the organization. 

The opening ceremony at Southern Connecticut State University in New Haven begins at  7:00 p.m. on Friday.

Since 1969, Special Olympics Connecticut has been "changing attitudes and changing lives," according to the organization, through year-round sports training and athletic competitions for children and adults with intellectual disabilities. 

The Connecticut group supports more than 13,000 athletes who compete in 26 different Olympic-type sports with the help of over 100 local coordinators, 900 coaches and 10,000 additional volunteers.