RALEIGH — Members of the Cabarrus County Sheriff’s Office participated in the Special Olympics North Carolina Law Enforcement Torch Run Final Leg and Summer Games Opening Ceremony in Raleigh on May 29, helping celebrate athletes from across the state and support the organization’s mission of inclusion.
According to the sheriff’s office, Sheriff Van Shaw took part in the lighting of the cauldron during the 2026 Special Olympics North Carolina Summer Games Opening Ceremony, a tradition that marks the start of the annual event.
Deputy Kelly Schroeder also played a prominent role in the ceremony. Schroeder, along with a Special Olympics athlete from Davidson County, was selected to represent Special Olympics North Carolina at the 2026 Special Olympics USA Games, scheduled for June 20-26 in Minnesota.
The pair carried the Flame of Hope and led the Final Leg Torch Run, which serves as a symbol of support for Special Olympics athletes in North Carolina and throughout the country.
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Deputy Kelly Schroeder, right, alongside a Davidson County Special Olympics athlete, carries the Flame of Hope.
The Flame of Hope represents courage, diversity and inclusion, while bringing communities together in support of athletes with intellectual disabilities.
The Cabarrus County Sheriff’s Office thanked the deputies who participated in this year’s Torch Run and recognized their ongoing support of Special Olympics North Carolina.
The Law Enforcement Torch Run is one of the largest public awareness and fundraising efforts for Special Olympics programs, with law enforcement officers across North Carolina helping carry the Flame of Hope to the Summer Games each year.
