Flame-of-Hope Starts 3-Day, 160-Mile Journey from Rehoboth to Newark

The 33rd Annual Statewide Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics started its three-day 160-mile journey to Newark from the Rehoboth Beach bandstand this evening.

The Flame of Hope left the Rehoboth Bandstand Wednesday night on a 3-day, 160-mile journey to Newark. Image courtesy WGMD/Alan Henney.

On Thursday, the Torch will start from three locations: Delmar (6 a.m., Rt.13 and Rt.54), Lewes (6:30 a.m., Troop 7), and Georgetown (7:30 a.m., The Circle), and will travel to Milford, Harrington and Dover, where a brief stop will be held at Legislative Hall at 2 p.m., and then continue to Smyrna and Odessa.

The event continues this Friday from Troop 9 at 6 a.m., with the Torch proceeding to the Wilmington police headquarters for a 9:45 a.m. celebration.  The event culminates with a final leg into the University of Delaware Bob Carpenter Center for the official opening of the 2019 Summer Games where the Special Olympics “Flame of Hope” will be delivered.

Between Wednesday evening and Friday, more than 500 members of Delaware law enforcement agencies will run the “Flame of Hope” to benefit Special Olympics.

In its 33 years, the Torch Run has raised more than $7.8 million to support the Special Olympics year‐round program of sports training and athletic competition for children and adults with intellectual disabilities.  For more details and how to make a donation, see the 2019 Delaware Law Enforcement Torch Run website.