The Special Olympics Unified Relay Across America is a once in a lifetime opportunity for America to unite to build communities of respect and inclusion. Over the course of 46 days, in a hand-to-hand exchange, people throughout the nation will carry the Special Olympics Flame of Hope across the country and deliver it to Los Angeles for the Special Olympics Word Games.

The Unified Relay will be three simultaneous routes hitting all 50 states and will be led by celebrity and Special Olympics athlete co-captains and supported by law enforcement officers. On May 26 the URAA will kick off in Miami, Washington, D.C. and Augusta, Maine.

The relay will take place May 26 to July 10. The kick off in Maine will begin at 7 a.m. at the Capital Building in Augusta and will include Gov. Paul LePage, local celebrities, Special Olympic Athletes and surprise guests. Our send-off will be covered by ESPN, ABC and iheartradio.

We want you to be part of this exciting event. Anyone can be a walker, runner, cyclist, or torchbearer in this relay. Over 20,000 runners, walkers, rollers and bikers will help deliver the Flame of Hope. To register for this once in a lifetime opportunity, visit www.unifiedrelayacrossamerica.org.

For more information on Special Olympics Maine or the Maine Leg (20 segments total) of the URAA please call Phil Geelhoed or Lisa Bird at 207-879-0489 or email Phil at philg@somaine.org or Lisa at lisab@somaine.org.