Special Olympics torch passes through Havre

Special Olympic athletes, along with their supporters, gathered at the Havre patrol station of the U.S. Border Patrol this morning to cheer on law enforcement officials for the Havre-to-Great Falls leg of the 2015 Law Enforcement Torch Run.

Havre Border Patrol Agent Douglas Garden said his team consists of 12 to 15 law enforcement officials and that his group will incorporate bicycles throughout the leg.

"We usually have two or three riders at a time," he said. "We just kind of 'leapfrog,' five miles at a time. ... It's neat because you get there and there's law enforcement from all over the state."

The Special Olympics athletes and supporters walked with the law enforcement team to the bottom of the hill, cheering them on.

Garden said it will take the team about six hours to complete the leg and that he is looking forward to seeing the excitement on the athletes' and families' faces when his team arrives in Great Falls.

"It's to raise money for the Special Olympics," he added. "It raises money for them and gives them opportunities to reach dreams," he said.

The 2015 Special Olympics Montana State Summer Games is set to take place May 19 through 22 in Missoula.

For more information on Special Olympics Montana, visit http://www.somt.org