Byhalia Torch Run supports Special Olympics

Under a clear Saturday morning sky, the “Flame of Hope” made its way through the streets of Byhalia, carried by a pack of law enforcement officers and athletes determined to champion a message of inclusion.

The Law Enforcement Torch Run (LETR) brought runners and walkers to the Byhalia Walking Park to support Special Olympics Mississippi (SOMS) through a five-kilometer run and a one-mile fun walk. The event is part of a larger global movement of

“Guardians of the Flame,” where more than 100,000 law enforcement members annually carry the torch.

Special Olympics Mississippi Executive Director Monica Daniels watched as the group prepared to kick off the run, noting that the turnout reflected the strength of the local community.

“It just proves that we are a solid community, that we believe in each other and we believe in supporting each other,” Daniels said. “There is nothing more important than representing these kids and these families and making sure they’ve got every opportunity to know that they’re loved and supported”.

The Byhalia event is one of several legs in a statewide relay. In Mississippi, four officers and their vehicles carry four separate torches across the state to converge for the start of the Special Olympics State Games. The journey concludes at Keesler Federal Park in Biloxi.

Among those leading the trek is Jeff Bell of the Byhalia Police Department, who serves as an LETR liaison.

Bell’s son Matthew has been involved with Special Olympics for 10 years, is a SOMS board member and will be a participant in the upcoming 2026 USA Games in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

“Competing and winning medals is great, but the best part about Special Olympics is making new friends and having fun,” Matthew Bell said.

Since its inception in 1981, LETR has raised over $1 billion for local Special Olympics programs. This figure represents the collective effort of law enforcement members worldwide to provide funding and awareness for athletes with intellectual disabilities.

While the fundraising is vital, Jeff Bell noted the personal impact the partnership has on the officers involved.

“From the outside it is easy to see what LETR does for the Special Olympics and the athletes,” Bell said. “But from the inside, we see what these athletes do for us each time they allow us into their world.”