POLICE and Special Olympics Victoria have joined with special school students in Horsham, Dimboola, Warracknabeal and Ararat for a torch relay.
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The run aims to break down barriers and fears some people with an intellectual disability might hold about authority figures and police.
About 25 students from Horsham Special School took part in a relay run through the middle of the city to May Park along with police officers from across Victoria and Australia on Wednesday afternoon.
More students joined the group in the park for a brief ceremony and all-abilities fun and games.
Participants in the day got torch run t-shirts and were invited to compete against the police officers.
Horsham Rural City Councillor Mark Radford congratulated the runners on braving the wind and cold to accompany the lit torch to a larger Olympic flame.
Member for Lowan Emma Kealy said Horsham was so lucky to host the Law Enforcement Torch Run.
“We’re really excited about it and it is a great opportunity for people to become involved and become better informed about the Special Olympics,” she said.
“We know that we need to do some lobbying to set up a Special Olympics participatory group in this region and I’d love t help that get up and running.
“Everybody who took part in the run, just look at your teammates who helped you: you never know, one of those people might be at the Special Olympics one day representing Australia.”
Facebook video by Horsham Police Eyewatch. Click image to play.