Law enforcement officers from across the state are involved in the annual Torch Run for Special Olympics — and the officers from the Lowcountry are no exception.

Beginning at 11 a.m. on May 6 Law enforcement officers will begin an approximately 125 mile relay of a Special Olympics torch from the sands of Sullivan's Island to the steps of the Statehouse in Columbia. Mount Pleasant Police Department Captain Stan Gragg will be participating in the event and has begun his fund-raising campaign.

Appropriately deemed the Coast to the Capital, this event will coincide with relays from other parts of the state and conclude at a press conference at 11 a.m. on May 7 to announce the beginning of the Special Olympic Summer Games.

Later that evening officers will join forces for an eight mile run from the Capital to Fort Jackson where the torch will be carried into the Summer Games. With this effort, Gragg hopes to raise awareness and donations for the Special Olympics. This represents law enforcement's continued commitment to provide support for South Carolina's approximately 15,000 Special Olympic athletes.

Anyone interested in supporting these efforts can donate directly at http://firstgiving.com/so-sc click on "View All Teams" and select Coast to the Capital Torch Run for Special Olympics of South Carolina and follow the links or contact Captain Gragg who will offer assistance and/or directions for other support opportunities or participation information. Corporate sponsorships are available through T-shirts worn by officers during the relay, and/or magnetic signage or banners attached to support vehicles.

Gragg participated in the mid-winter torch run last year in Charleston from Colonial Lake to The Citadel and carried the torch in for the mid-winter games.This current effort has grown from that participation. In the past four other areas across the state participated, but that has waned off in recent years.

Gragg hopes to reestablish support and the Mount Pleasant Police Department joins Greenville, Rockhill and Horry County in this year's event.

All of the money raised goes to the 1500 athletes in South Carolina training and participating in the 2010 games and donations are all tax deductible.

In addition, Mount Pleasant law enforcement officers and civilians will participate in selling T-shirts and other souvenirs to support the cause.

Participants in the relay itself will include about 12 officers. Citizens who donate significant amounts are also encouraged to sign up to run various legs of the relay with Mount Pleasant officers.

The baton will be passed from one person to the other as the leg is run, and there will be generally one officer at a time on the road.

Gragg is committed to this cause along with many others that benefit the community because it is where his heart leads him, he said. "To quote Lord Halifax, 'service is the rent for our room on earth,' " Gragg said.

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

For more information, or to donate, contact Captain Gragg at the Mount Pleasant Police Department at 884-4176 or visit http://www.firstgiving.com/stangragg.

(Sully Witte can be reached by e-mailing editor@moultrienews.com.)