SACRAMENTO — More than 500 law enforcement personnel from federal, military, state, county and local agencies will be running the Special Olympics’ Flame of Hope through Northern California this month.

The ran, which began Monday, lasts through June 25.

The torch will pass through Sonoma County on June 21 and 22, and through Napa County on June 23.

The event is part of the annual Law Enforcement Torch Run, a year-round fundraising campaign that will culminate at the Special Olympics Northern California Summer Games, June 25-27 at UC Davis.

The Special Olympics Summer Games brings together more than 700 Special Olympics athletes from throughout Northern California to compete in aquatics, bocce, tennis, and track and field.

The games officially begin after the final leg of the torch run has been completed and the Flame of Hope lights the Special Olympics cauldron during opening ceremonies.

As one of the state’s largest grassroots fundraising efforts, the Law Enforcement Torch Run has become the single largest supporter of Special Olympics Northern California, a free year-round sports program that serves almost 14,000 children and adults with developmental disabilities.

Since 1995, Northern California law enforcement has raised $9.3 million with the goal to raise $850,000 more in 2010.

The Law Enforcement Torch Run began in Redding (Shasta County) on Monday morning, June 14.

Throughout the next 10 days the Flame of Hope will travel hundreds of miles throughout 21 counties arriving at Davis, California on Friday, June 25 for the opening of the Summer Games.

Every officer running the torch has earned the right to be a “Guardian of the Flame” by raising funds and awareness for Special Olympics.