FLEMING ISLAND – More than 45 runners and walkers participated in the Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics Florida on April 28, just weeks before Clay County athletes head to Walt Disney World for the State Summer Games.

Members of the Clay County Sheriff’s Office, Orange Park and Green Cove Springs police departments and local athletes, sold purple shirts to raise money for Clay County’s team, according to event coordinator Sgt. Zachary Cox.

“It’s probably the biggest turnout we’ve had in the history of the torch run according to Marsha (Skiles, Special Olympics Coordinator). “She said she’s never remembered having more participants. And then of course, we had people that just bought shirts and just gave donations. We had one person gave a $300 donation. So, so it was great.”

The state games on May 20-21 will be a preview of the Special Olympics USA Games, which will attract athletes from around the world. The USA Games are scheduled for June 5-12.

The Fleming Island march started at the Publix Super Market parking lot and proceed south along U.S. Highway 17, then east onto Village Square Parkway and north along Town Center Boulevard and back to Publix.

As the group approached Fleming Island High, they were joined by the school’s marching band.

“That’s where our walk our walk first portion was went on basically from high school to Thunderbolt Elementary,” Cox said.

“I think the entire school basically came out, which was awesome from that principal (Amy Vann) alone. But those kids were ecstatic and everyone has great time.”