CAMDEN — Graham Wiley, of Camden, has been leading the Special Olympics Torch Run from downtown Camden for the past 18 years, setting off annually with a group of runners on a course toward Thomaston and beyond to benefit the Special Olympics. This year was no different, as he and four Camden police officers laced up their sneakers to hit the local highway.

Wiley, who is now 23, began running when he was five years old. He has participated in the Special Olympics throughout his childhood, and in 2010 was the first represent Camden Hills Regional High School at the Maine State Summer Games, where he won medals for the softball throw and standing long jump.

Running with him this year were Camden Police Chief Randy Gagne and Camden police officers Wes Butler, Tim Davis, John Tooley and Jeff Boudreau. Just after 8 a.m., they started southward on Route 1 from the Camden Town Office. Escorting them was Camden Police Officer Justin Hills on his bicycle.

Annually since 1985, law enforcement officers across Maine have participated in the Special Olympics Maine Torch Run. And each year, approximately 700 officers run approximately 900 miles carrying the Special Olympics Flame of Hope, concluding at the Summer State Games opening ceremonies.

The Torch Run is not only a show of support for Special Olympics athletes, as runners each raise funds by obtaining pledges for the run and participate in dozens of statewide fundraising events. To date, the Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics Maine has raised more than $1 million. The 2014 State Summer Games are June 6-8 at UMaine-Orono.

The mission of Special Olympics, “is to provide year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities, giving them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage , experience joy and participate in sharing of gifts, skills and friendship with their families, other Special Olympics athletes, and the community.”

More than 600 members of Maine Law Enforcement will be participating in the run, which is one of Maine's largest fundraising events for the Special Olympics.

The run is divided up into 15 legs and each leg covers a portion of the state. 

Across the country, the Law Enforcement Torch Run raises even more money; in 2012 along, the Run raised more than $42.6 million. Since its inception in 1981, the Run has grown worldwide with more than 97,000 volunteers spanning 46 countries, and has raised more than $461 million for the Special Olympics movement. 

On June 4, Gagne ran 7.2 miles for the Run; Butler and Davis ran 7.2 miles, plus 10 feet. Boudreau ran 10 miles, and Tooley topped them all, running 14 miles along Route 1. Hills rode 10 miles on his bike.