photo by: Shawn Valverde/Special to the Journal-World

Runners depart from The Oread Hotel in Lawrence, Kansas, on Monday, June 2, 2026, during the Kansas Law Enforcement Torch Run supporting the Special Olympics.

Representatives from the Lawrence Police Department, Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, KU, Eudora and Baldwin City police departments and Douglas County Special Olympics athletes carried the Flame of Hope for the area leg of its journey before the Kansas Summer Games. Their leg of the run started at Lawrence police headquarters and included stops at The Oread Hotel, Allen Fieldhouse and the Eudora and Baldwin City police departments before ending at Kalmar in Ottawa.

The Special Olympics Kansas Summer Games are scheduled for this weekend, June 5-7 at Maize High School in Wichita.

photo by: Shawn Valverde/Special to the Journal-World

Runners arrive in front of The Oread Hotel in Lawrence Kansas on Monday, June 2, 2026, during the Kansas Law Enforcement Torch Run supporting the Special Olympics.

photo by: Shawn Valverde/Special to the Journal-World

Runners pass through the University of Kansas campus on Monday, June 2, 2026, during the Lawrence leg of the Kansas Law Enforcement Torch Run.

photo by: Shawn Valverde/Special to the Journal-World

Runners pass through the University of Kansas campus on Monday, June 2, 2026, during the Lawrence leg of the Kansas Law Enforcement Torch Run.

photo by: Shawn Valverde/Special to the Journal-World

Police escort runners through campus on Monday, June 2, 2026, during the Kansas Law Enforcement Torch Run supporting the Special Olympics.

photo by: Shawn Valverde/Special to the Journal-World

Runners arrive at Allen Fieldhouse on Monday, June 2, 2026, during the Kansas Law Enforcement Torch Run supporting the Special Olympics.

photo by: Shawn Valverde/Special to the Journal-World

Runners pass Chi Omega Fountain on Monday, June 2, 2026 during the Kansas Law Enforcement Torch Run supporting the Special Olympics.

photo by: Shawn Valverde/Special to the Journal-World

Runners rest outside Allen Fieldhouse on Monday, June 2, 2026, during the Kansas Law Enforcement Torch Run supporting the Special Olympics.

photo by: Shawn Valverde/Special to the Journal-World

Runners stop for a rest outside Allen Fieldhouse on Monday, June 2, 2026, during the Kansas Law Enforcement Torch Run supporting the Special Olympics.