Officer Abran Participates in Final Leg Torch Run in Italy for Special Olympics

South Kohala Police Officer Michael Abran was selected by Special Olympics Hawai‘i to represent Hawai‘i in the ”Final Leg” of the lighting of the Special Olympics Torch in Italy. The “Final Leg” is a team of law enforcement officers and Special Olympics athletes from around the world who carry the Flame of Hope across Italy, culminating in the lighting of the cauldron at the Opening Ceremony of the Special Olympics World Winter Games Turin 2025. A symbol of courage, hope, and inclusion for people with intellectual disabilities, being selected for the “Final Leg” is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

Volunteering on his own time and using his own funds, Officer Abran and the “Final Leg” team ran the Flame of Hope through 10 cities in Italy, including Bardonecchia, Pargelato, Sestriere, Novara, Vercelli, Cuneo, Asti, Alessandria, Verbania, and Biella. The sole representative from Hawai‘i, Officer Abran was one of 81 law enforcement officers from 17 countries and eight athletes who participated in the event.

The Final Leg run was held from March 1 through the 7, with the entire group running in a one to two cities a day. The entire Final Leg team traveled to a different city every day, running one to three miles in that city with one athlete and one officer speaking at a community event in each city at the end of each torch.

“One of the challenges of the Final Leg was the weather,” said Officer Abran. “The weather was in the 20s and the warmest it got was in the 50s, one day it even snowed as we ran.”

Abran has been a long-time volunteer with Special Olympics for more than a decade, volunteering his time as a coach for Special Olympics athletes. He also participates in the police department’ annual Badges and Buckets fundraiser for Special Olympics.

“It was inspiring to be in a different country and to see Special Olympics in another country,” said Officer Abran. “We were there to promote having our law enforcement counterparts do torch runs in other countries. To carry that flag in those other cities and in Italy was amazing,” said Abran, who is a 15-year veteran of the department.

Locally, Special Olympics Hawai‘i holds the Troy Barboza Torch Run/Walk on each of the main Hawaiian Island every year. The Kona Torch Run took place Saturday, April 26, and the Hilo Torch Run will take place Saturday, May 3, at 8:00 a.m. starting at the Hilo Police Station. The Final Leg Run will be held on Oahu on Friday, June 6, and includes a 3.2-mile run from Fort DeRussey to the Les Murakami Stadium.