AIKEN --- Law enforcement officers from area agencies helped carry the Special Olympics Flame of Hope torch through Aiken on May 2.

About 50 officers from the Aiken County Sheriff's Office, Aiken Public Safety, Wackenhut Security Services and the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources ran from New Ellenton up Whiskey Road to H. Odell Weeks Activity Center.

The 10-mile torch run, which began about 7:30 a.m., "allows the law enforcement community to raise awareness for Special Olympics in a different and unique way," said Cheryl Stephens, of Wackenhut.

"It is raising money for the athletes in support of their program by selling torch run T-shirts and hats, and the money goes 100 percent into the Special Olympics program," she said.

Wackenhut Security has raised more than $10,000 for the 2008 Special Olympics.

At one time, the torch run to Aiken was much longer, more than 15 miles, beginning at the Fifth Street Bridge and ending at the Weeks Center. The route changed to its present course five years ago.

"It feels really good to be interacting with other agencies in this," Ms. Stephens said.

The torch run began in 1981 in Wichita, Kan., when the city's police chief saw a need to raise funds and awareness for Special Olympics. Since then, more than 85,000 law enforcement officers have carried the torch across 35 countries, raising money and awareness for the Special Olympics. In 2007, the Special Olympics program raised more than $35 million worldwide.

Reach Michelle Guffey at (803) 648-1395 or michelle.guffey@augustachronicle.com.