Community supports Mat-Su Special Olympics during annual Law Enforcement Torch Run

WASILLA — The Special Olympics Alaska Mat-Su Community held the 2024 Mat-Su Law Enforcement Torch Run and Pledge Drive at the Iditapark Saturday, May 18.

“It was amazing this year,” Special Olympics Alaska Mat-Su Community public relations and communications chair Danielle Sherrer said.

According to Sherrer, 215 people participated in the Torch Run, and they were able to raise over $20,000- making it one of the largest turnouts they've held in the Mat-Su Valley.

“That was a huge deal,” Sherrer said.

Each year, local law enforcement officers and other first responders help with the event and cheer on the Special Olympics athletes. According to Sherrer, they had support from officers and first responders such as Alaska State Troopers, Palmer Police Department, Wasilla Police Department, and the Division of Forestry participated this year.

Sherrer said that a lot of local individuals, businesses, groups, and organizations supported this year's event which was greatly encouraging.

“We had just a lot of people join together and help make our Mat-Su Torch Run super amazing this year," Sherrer said.

Each year, there's a barbecue held after Torch Run. Sherrer said this is a great chance for everybody to socialize and come together as a community. She said they plan to keep that component ingrained in the event experience.

“That was something that was really important to us,” Sherrer said.

According to Sherrer, the Torch Run has been going on for many years and it's held simultaneously at 14 different communities across the state each year. She said that the money raised in each community stays there to support their efforts, and the event itself helps get the word out about the Special Olympics.

“It's so important to raise that awareness in the community," Sherrer said.

There's over 250 athletes currently participating in the Mat-Su Special Olympics program, according to Sherrer.

“We’ve grown quite a bit in the last year or two with the amount of participants," Sherrer said.

Sherrer said that the funds raised during the Torch Run help their overall efforts such as renting venues, providing gear and equipment, offering awards, and holding social events. She said this event is a fun way for their athletes to interact with local law enforcement and community members and see how much they care.

“It's amazing,” Sherrer said. “It means a lot to them. They love the encouragement.”

For more information about Special Olympics Alaska Mat-Su Community, visit

specialolympicsalaska.org/programs/local-programs/mat-su-valley or follow the official Facebook page.

Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman reporter Jacob Mann at jacob.mann@frontiersman.com