Several University of Arizona Police Department officers and employees will be biking and running through the heart of campus today in an effort to raise money for the Special Olympics.

Eleven UAPD employees will join a Special Olympics athlete in the thirteenth annual Law Enforcement run, in which participants will bring the Special Olympics' torch through campus.

"This is a good chance for us do to something," said Sgt. Octavio Barcello, coordinator of the event. "We are raising money for a good cause. Many of us take for granted the athletic things that we can do, but the fact that these athletes can compete competitively is something special."

The participants will be meeting in the Zone 1 lot at East Sixth Street and North Campbell Avenue at 9 a.m. They will take the torch nearly three miles, down East University Boulevard to North Stone Avenue, where Tucson Police Department officials will take it from them, said Sarah Duke, a UAPD senior office specialist.

Each participant raised funds by taking pledges. The money goes toward participant entry fees, uniforms, transportation and meals for the athletes, Duke said.

In the past, the department has been able to raise extra funds through raffles and giveaways, in one instance giving away an NCAA autographed UA basketball.

But the department got off to a late start this year because the primary coordinator of the event was called up by the reserves to go to Iraq.

Though they were not able to raise the sums of money they have been able to in the past, Barcello said they are still looking forward to the event.

"I'm excited," Barcello said. "This is not only a good chance for us to come together and recognize how special these

athletes are, but it is good exposure for the campus too."

Several other departments across the state are also taking part in the torch run, including most of those in Pima County, Barcello said. UAPD will receive the torch from the Border Patrol and the Nogales Police Department.

All of those police officials running torches will arrive at Sun Devil Stadium in Phoenix by Friday evening to mark the beginning of Special Olympics Arizona.