The Special Olympics Summer Games Torch Relay continues its tour through the Los Angeles county area this week and is scheduled to reach Long Beach by Saturday morning for the Games’ opening ceremony.

Officers and cadets of the LAPD Mission Division kicked off Wednesday’s leg of the Central Law Enforcement torch run at the corner of Balboa and Sepulveda Blvd in Granada Hills, Calif. The central relay is one of three runs originating from southern and central California.

“We had a southern route that started last Monday from San Diego county and has been working its way to Long Beach and we have a northern route that started in San Luis Obispo on Monday that will make its way to Long Beach,” said Richard Fernandez, Assistant Vice President for the Special Olympics Torch Run.

Law enforcement and the Special Olympics first partnered together in 1981 and have since helped raise over $500 million in funds for local Special Olympics programs.

The 2015 Special Olympics Summer Games runs this weekend from June 13 to the 14.

Gallery • 8 Photos

Allen Wales, Special Olympics World Games Global Messenger for 2015, left, looks at the back of a decorated vehicle on Wednesday, June 10, 2015. This leg of the Special Olympics Torch relay was ran by Cadets from the LAPD Mission Division on June 15, 2015, in Granada Hills, Ca. Photo credit: Matt Rose