After a year of hard work by it’s newly formed committee, Special Olympics Bermuda has received full accreditation and is now a member after ten years of non-involvement.

Special Olympics Bermuda will hold its first event today, a torch run involving two teams starting from each end of the island and finishing at City Hall in Hamilton.

The east relay will start at Kings Square and the west at Warren Simmons Field, both at 8.30am and involving six legs, each two miles.

The west route heads east out of Somerset to Middle Road, Southampton and continuing to the junction of Burnt House Hill, turning left onto Harbour Road.

It will continue to Crow Lane and onto East Broadway to the Merge Point for Torches outside Blue Waters Anglers Club, onto Front Street, Queen Street, Church Street, right on King Street, left on Reid Street, Cavendish Road, Middle Road and left on Montpelier Road before finishing at Police Field.

The east route comes out of St George’s and right on to Kindley Field Road and over Blue Hole Hill and along North Shore Road to Flatts Village.

From there it will continue over Flatts Hill, along Middle Road to Lane Hill and downhill onto East Broadway to the Merge Point for Torches outside Blue Waters Anglers Club.

Karen Woollery, the national director for Special Olympics Bermuda, said: “Any Special Olympian who has not signed up are welcome to attend the Police field and enjoy the family fun day planned from 12pm to 6pm.

“We are getting our athletes ready for the 2019 Summer Games and are in need of sponsorship, coaches and volunteers. Our sports programme involves athletics, swimming, equestrian, boccia, bowling, tennis, golf and football.

“Although traditionally the torch run is exclusively a fundraiser by law enforcement around the world, we have decided to include Bermuda Dept of Corrections, Bermuda Fire and Rescue and the Bermuda Dept of Marine and Ports

“We will be holding our first track and field event on Saturday, September 17 at the National Sports Centre at 10am.”

The mission of the Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics is to increase awareness and raise funds for the Special Olympics movement.

Each year, the LETR initiative grows bigger and better.

As the largest grass-roots fundraiser and public awareness vehicle for Special Olympics, the LETR has raised more than $500 million since its inception in 1981. It has grown extensively worldwide with over 97,000 volunteers spanning 46 countries.

To learn more about the LETR for Special Olympics visit www.letr.org

Anyone wishing to enter a team can e-mail bermudaspecialolympics@gmail.com.