'Flame of Hope' to stop in Hampden County ahead of Special Olympics summer games
LUDLOW, Mass. (WWLP) – The 'Flame of Hope' is making its way across Massachusetts this week as part of the Special Olympics Massachusetts Law Enforcement Torch Run (LETR) Statewide Final Leg, with a special stop at the Hampden County Sheriff's Office.
From Monday to Friday, law enforcement officers and Special Olympics athletes are carrying the symbolic torch throughout the Commonwealth to raise awareness and build excitement for the 2025 Special Olympics Massachusetts Summer Games, taking place June 6-8 at Harvard University.
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Now in its third year, the Statewide Final Leg honors athletes from across Massachusetts and recognizes the law enforcement officers who support them. Known as the 'Guardians of the Flame,' officers participating in the run represent their counties and help carry the Special Olympics torch to the Summer Games' opening ceremonies.
'Supporting the Law Enforcement Torch Run and Special Olympics is more than a tradition for us—it's a privilege and a promise,' said Hampden County Sheriff Nick Cocchi. 'It's a promise to stand behind these incredible athletes and to champion a more inclusive and compassionate community. We're proud to carry the Flame of Hope and to show our commitment not just in words, but in action.'
Employees of the Hampden County Sheriff's Office will gather outside the facility on Wednesday morning to welcome the Final Leg Team and show their support for the athletes and the values of inclusion and community that the Special Olympics represents.
This year's Final Leg team includes 13 participants–10 from law enforcement agencies across the state and three Special Olympics athletes. Among them are two members of the Hampden County Sheriff's Office:
Cheri Burton, Hampden County Sheriff's Office
Dana Delorenzo, Transit Police
Patrick Dooney, Hampden County Sheriff's Office
Larry Jedrey, Everett Police
Dianne Kirkpatrick, UMass Boston Police
Chris Liacos, Gloucester Police
Trista Manchuso, Maynard Police
Ryan Maxfield, Brandeis University Police
Allison McCann, Maynard Police
The team also includes these Special Olympics Massachusetts athletes:
Dee Cotter, LIFE Cape Cod
Anne DeForge, Springfield
Ben Regazzo, Mansfield
The LETR Final Leg serves as the culmination of year-long Special Olympics events and symbolizes the unified spirit of inclusion, teamwork, and community that defines the Games.
WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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