On Thursday 16 July, Northampton County Cricket Club players Nicky Boje, Stephen Peters, Niall O'Brien and Ryan Cummins will join Special Olympics athletes from the East Midlands, Mayor of Northampton Councillor Michael Hill and representatives from police forces across Great Britain in Northampton to celebrate the 2009 Law Enforcement Torch Run® for Special Olympics Great Britain, supported by National Grid. The Special Olympics torch 'Flame of Hope' will travel across 45 towns and cities before arriving in Leicester on Saturday 25^th July to mark the official

opening of the 2009 Special Olympics GB National Summer Games.

Following the event at Northampton County Cricket Club, the Flame of Hope will be escorted by representatives from police forces across Great Britain through some of the UK's major cities, including London before reaching Leicester where it will be welcomed by a range of celebrity supporters to mark the start of the 2009 Special Olympics GB National Summer Games.

194 Special Olympics athletes from the East Midlands region will be taking part in the Special Olympics GB National Summer Games. Set to be the biggest Games to date, it will attract over 2,400 athletes, 1,200 coaches, 1,500 volunteers and 6,000 families where they will participate in a week of Olympic-style sports competitions in the largest multi-sports event in the UK this year.

To support Special Olympics Great Britain, local volunteers from the National Grid office in Northampton have raised over £12,000 through fundraising activities, including a Holyoaks2 charity football match, karaoke nights, raffles and cake sales. National Grid has been an official partner of the Special Olympics since 2007.

Lawrie McMenemy MBE, Chairman of Special Olympics Great Britain, said: "The Law Enforcement Torch Run® provides a fantastic opportunity to get behind the athletes and support them in the run up to the Special Olympics GB National Summer Games. It is great to see such enthusiasm from our British police. The support from every city involved in the Torch Run is truly heart-warming and I'm sure it will provide a great send-off for the athletes and contribute to an unforgettable National Summer Games."

Steve Holliday, Chief Executive of National Grid, said: "As the Official Partner of Special Olympics Great Britain, we are delighted to be supporting the Law Enforcement Torch Run® in the lead up to the National Summer Games in Leicester. At National Grid we like to think of ourselves as going the extra mile for this special charity and hundreds of our volunteers really enjoy and benefit from their involvement in the Special Olympics Movement. This is a great opportunity to help raise awareness of Special Olympics Great Britain and the Games, which is set to be a wonderful event."

Special Olympics Great Britain is the country's largest provider of year-round sports training and competition for children and adults with learning disabilities. Special Olympics Great Britain is recognised as the third member of the Olympic family and is a separate organisation to the Paralympics.

THE FLAME OF HOPE ROUTE

July 12^th Much Wenlock July 13^th Newcastle

July 14^th Leeds July 15^th Manchester

July 16^th Northampton July 16^th Slough

July 17^th London

The Flame of Hope – Final Leg

July 22^nd Wymondham, Morley St Botolph, Great Ellingham, Rockland St Peter, Lower Stow Beddon, Great Hockham,

Stonebridge, Hockwood Cum Wilton, Chatteris

July 23^rd Ramsey, Ramsey St Mary's, Holme, Glatton, Great Gidding / Chapel End, Fayway, Titchmarsh, Thrapston,

Woodwell, Panford St John, Isham, Oringbury, Broughton, Scaldwell, Brixworth, Creaton, West Haddon, Watford

July 24^th Birdingbury, Royal Leamington Spa, Warwick, Cubbington, Baginton, Shilton, Bulkington, Brancote, Hinckley

July 25^th National Summer Games Leicester Opening Ceremony, Walker Stadium, Leicester