Special Olympics Torch Run to Stop at 45 N.J. ShopRites

The 30th Annual Torch Run for Special Olympics New Jersey is scheduled to stop at 45 ShopRite stores across New Jersey on June 7. ShopRite, a Champion Partner of the New Jersey Games, provides food, funds and volunteers for the yearly event.

Starting as early as 4:45 a.m., more than 3,000 law enforcement officers, cheered on by ShopRite customers and associates, will take part in the Torch Run, carrying the Special Olympics New Jersey “Flame of Hope” more than 750 miles across the Garden State. The many legs of the torch run will converge at the College of New Jersey in Ewing where the cauldron will be lit that evening, officially opening the Special Olympics New Jersey 2013 Summer Games.

The goal of the Law Enforcement Torch Run (LETR), part of an international Special Olympics campaign coordinated and managed by all divisions of law enforcement officers and officials, is to raise funds and awareness for Special Olympics New Jersey as the torch makes its way through more than 300 communities. Participating law enforcement officers have been raising funds for months leading up to the event. Last year, the LETR for Special Olympics New Jersey raised more than $2.9 million.

The public can track the Torch Run in real time on June 7, thanks to support vehicles outfitted with GPS units that will display current torch locations. 

ShopRite is the registered trademark of Keasbey, N.J.-based retail cooperative Wakefern Food Corp. With nearly 250 ShopRite supermarkets throughout New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Delaware and Maryland, ShopRite serves more than 5 million customers each week.