NICK GOSNELL
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The annual Law Enforcement Torch Run and Polar Plunge/Solar Splash event to benefit Kansas Special Olympics is part of Third Thursday activities this month in Hutchinson on May 18.
"We are going to start with the Torch Run and we are going to start in front of Pools Plus at 5:45 p.m," said Andrew Soule. "We are going to be set up with the pool in the 500 block of North Main. We'll be in the middle of the street, where everybody can find us."
The Law Enforcement Torch Run started back in 1985 in Wichita and is now an international event, but the Kansas commemoration is always in the late spring prior to the state track and field meet for Special Olympics. If you want to plunge, you need to register.
"We've got a website set up at https://charity.pledgeit.org/hutch," Soule said. "Or, they can register in person the day of the event. We will have registration set up at 6 p.m. that evening."
The minimum pledge to plunge is $75. This is just one of many fundraisers held throughout the year, like the cover the cruiser events at high school football games in the fall and the polar plunge that they are hoping to get back going in 2024.
"I kind of set a goal in that $15,000 range, if I can get somewhere in that area throughout the course of the year, I'm pretty happy," Soule said. "Some years have been better than that and some years have lacked a little, but we've been pretty consistent here in this community and we're always looking for ways to keep it going."
The Kansas Special Olympics Summer Games are June 2-4 at Maize South High School.
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