One of the runners from the group of first responders that did the running was Oscar Rodriguez of the Hope Fire Department who was flag carrier.  About the conditions for running this year, he said "It was actually pretty good, not as bad as last year, not as hot last year."

Accompanied by a fire truck, a Pafford ambulance, other vehicles and a German Shepherd-mix dog, the runners took a route from the former weigh station on Highway 67 West, entering Hope on West Third Street. They then took a turn north on Elm, ran with the railroad tracks down Division Street and then turned south on South Main.  At Rainbow of Challenges headquarters, they finished their leg of the run and turned the torch over to the bicyclists who will take it to Prescott.

The summer games of Special Olympics Arkansas will take place May 22nd-24th on the campus of Harding University in Searcy.