By ROBIN SHANNON

Staff Reporter

LAPLACE – Sprits were high Wednesday morning as the St. John Parish leg of the Louisiana Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics began its run through the streets of the parish.

Runners of all ages embarked from the Frostop Restaurant, located at 411 Airline Hwy., to take on the seven-mile trek. Along the way, the runners made stops at various schools to interact with kids, and take short breaks before moving.

From the Frostop, runners jogged down Airline Highway to Main Street, and then to W. 5th Street, where stops were made at John L. Ory Magnet and St. Joan of Arc School. From there, the run moved up Elm Street back to Airline, and into Reserve. In Reserve, the group stopped at East St. John High School, Reserve Christian, and Riverside Academy. The runners wound things down at St. Peter Catholic School, on Highway 44 in Reserve.

Similar torch runs are taking place all across the state to help raise money for the Special Olympics. In previous years, the statewide run, which is the largest fundraising effort for Special Olympics, was able to raise as much as $17,000 for the cause.