The largest Hometown Torch Run to date blazed through Uptown Mt. Lebanon this morning in support of Special Olympics athletes across Pennsylvania. That’s 110 runners and $6,000 raised.

“I’m so grateful. This is the biggest one we’ve ever done, and it’s also the first one we’ve ever done that is part of the official school day,” said Eric Cushing, vice president of strategic partnerships with Special Olympics PA.

“We have never done one that will end with a full school pep rally either. So that’s really unique and exciting and maybe that becomes the norm. Mt. Lebanon is kind of the pilot program,” he added.

Cushing credited Mt. Lebanon Police Sgt. Ty Kegarise for pulling off the record-breaking event, as well as the Mt. Lebanon School District for their collaboration and partnership.

“All the money goes to Special Olympics PA. Our athletes compete free of charge. You never pay a dime for anything,” Cushing said of the 1,000 events for more than 16,000 athletes across the state each year.

For decades, the organization has hosted Law Enforcement Torch Runs in Pittsburgh, Philadelphia and Harrisburg, but two years ago they started the Hometown Torch Run to make the impact more local. At the run, law enforcement, Special Olympic athletes, community members and students join together, led by law enforcement carrying a torch named the Flame of Hope. “They are considered the guardians of the flame, and so their relationship to our athletes and to our mission is one of the biggest, best, most incredible partnerships we have,” Cushing said.

Participants gathered in the parking lot of Mt. Lebanon United Lutheran Church, near the intersection of Washington and Cochran roads. They ran from there to the Public Safety Building, then back up Washington to the high school, where the entire school held a pep rally. Tonight at the Mt. Lebanon High School football game, Special Olympic athletes run on the field alongside Blue Devil football players.