Lake Co. cops to raise funds for Special Olympics

Those police officers standing atop your local Dunkin Donuts as you pull in for coffee at 5 a.m. Friday aren't sharpshooters waiting to pick off your French cruller. They're fundraisers.

Illinois police officers, among the biggest supporters of Illinois Special Olympics, are staking out 97 Dunkin' Donuts rooftops Friday morning and into the early afternoon. They are raising money for their own special arm of the Special Olympics fundraising - the 24th Law Enforcement Torch Run.

Make a donation, get a free doughnut. Donate at least $10, and get a Law Enforcement Torch Run travel mug and coupon for free medium coffee. Other items, such as Torch Run T-shirts and hats, will be sold for various donation amounts.

Participating stores in Lake County are: Deerfield, 499 Lake-Cook Road; Fox Lake, 5 E. Grand Ave.; Mundelein, 722 S. Route 83, 346 N. Lake St., and 2250 S. Route 83; Round Lake Beach, 369 E. Rollins Road; Third Lake, 34484 N. U.S. Highway 45; Vernon Hills, 700 N. Milwaukee Ave.; Waukegan, 2900 Belvidere Road.

Last year, the combined efforts of 68 departments raised $114,000, This year, an additional 29 departments have joined the effort.

"Support of Special Olympics is as strong as ever," said Illinois Torch Run Director and Channahon Police Chief Joe Pena. "Last year, we were the fifth-highest grossing Torch Run program in the world."

Dunkin Donuts also will donate $10,000 to the cause.

The Illinois Law Enforcement Torch Run was started in 1986. Each year, more than 3,000 officers cover 1,500 miles carrying the Flame of Hope through the streets of their hometowns and to the State Summer Games in Normal in June. It is the single largest year-round fundraising event benefiting Special Olympics Illinois; and last year, the Torch Run raised more than $2.2 million.