The Alabama Law Enforcement Torch Run will return to Troy Friday in an united effort to keep the “Flame of Hope” burning for the Alabama Special Olympics.

The torch involves the combined efforts of law enforcement officers and Special Olympic athletes running the “Flame of Hope” into the opening ceremonies for the Special Olympics.

The running event will begin Friday at 2 p.m. and runners will start at the First Baptist Church on North Three Notch Street, said Troy Police Spokesman Sgt. Benny Scarbrough.

Runners accompanying the flame will go around the square then stop at the Troy Police Department on Elm Street for opening remarks.

Then, the torch will be passed on to a Troy University representative.

Scarbrough said there will be anywhere from 75 to 100 officers coming to town.

“Seeing all those cars coming down College Street is really a sight to see,” Scarbrough said.

According to Scarbrough, the flame will be accompanied by “Guardians of the Flame,” who will be with the torch the entire time it is in Troy.

These “Guardians of the Flame” are law enforcement officers.

Lt. Ken Adkinson, state director for the ALETR, organizes the run and oversees other projects that raise money and awareness for the Special Olympics of Alabama.

According to Adkinson, the run involves law enforcement officers across the state.

Today there will be law enforcement officers running in north Alabama.

Then, they will head south, stopping in the Birmingham area overnight and then on to Montgomery and Troy.

“We will do a ceremony in Montgomery, then after that we will convoy to Troy,” Adkinson said.

Adkinson also said the purpose of the run is to “unify law enforcement across the state and raise awareness for the Special Olympics.”

After the torch run there will be an opening ceremony on Friday in Troy University’s Movie Gallery Stadium at 6:30 p.m.

The actual competition will begin the following day at 9 a.m. until all the events have completed.