 The Special Olympics Summer Games are right around the corner and then this week's Community Spotlight or Josh Peterson shows us how local law enforcement is offering a helping hand. The Olympic spirit was in the air at Paul Bunyan Park this morning as local law enforcement rallied around athletes for the Special Olympics Summer Games. While this is only the second time local authorities have carried the Olympic torch, the partnership goes back further. Law enforcement torch run is actually started in 1981 by Chief Richard Lemonyan out in Kansas as a fundraiser for Special Olympics. We've now been picked up as the charity of choice for both the Chiefs Association and the Sheriff's Association. So the law enforcement torch run is the biggest fundraiser for Special Olympics. Six local officers will alternate along the route to Pequot Lakes. For many of them, this is just another way to make a difference and give back to the community. I think it's important that we we can do some of this stuff for the community members and try to put us in a better light and so that's why it's important for me and I know that these guys appreciate us being here. For the athletes, having law enforcement alongside them leaves a good feeling and is a great inspiration. Like before I kind of like came like did this I was kind of like okay I don't know if I want to do or not want to so I mean it kind of gives me a lot of confidence to come out here and do this tonight today. Encouragement support behind this as we represent when we go down the cities this week and that our the police force is supporting us and cheering us on. Even if the summer games don't start for a few days, today's torch run is an important partnership and will leave its participants with a lasting impact. Athletics are so transformative. They're such a powerful thing for so many people and being able to compete at a state level tournament is a really exciting thing and having our whole community behind our athletes is really exciting. Walking or running these athletes and local police and sheriff's deputies will take each stride together and bringing the athletes another step closer to the big summer games. With this week's community spotlight in Bemidji, Josh Peterson, Lakeland News. If you enjoyed this segment of Lakeland News, please consider making a tax-deductible contribution to Lakeland PBS.