LONDONDERRY — As the sun beat down over Route 102 Thursday morning, a small cluster of Londonderry police officers were just warming up for their moment to carry the torch.

Stretching and sipping bottled water in the parking lot of Derry Plaza, the local runners awaited the arrival of Lt. Tim Jones and dozens of others making their way from Salem to Londonderry as part of the local stretch of the Law Enforcement Torch Run, which raises money and awareness for the New Hampshire Special Olympics program.

With state police on motorcycles leading the way, the run continued down Route 102 all the way into Nashua. By day's end, Jones and police Sgt. Michael McCutcheon had run roughly 17 miles for a cause near and dear to their hearts.

Their Londonderry police comrades, Detective Scott Balukonis and Officers Daniel Hurley, Garrett Malloy and Chuck Nickerson ran the 5-mile stretch to the Hudson town line.

A luncheon for the runners at the local American Legion hall immediately followed the run.

Jones, who has served as the event's Londonderry police liaison for the past three years, has been running in the event for 14 years.

A coach for the Team Uncanoonuc Special Olympics team in Goffstown, Jones works to raise money for the charity all year long. Jones and fellow Londonderry police officers place medals on the local athletes during the local games held each spring at Londonderry High School.

In recent years, Jones has invited local military personnel from the Londonderry Reserve Center to join in the fun.

“They've been great about sending us personnel to run and carry the torch,” Jones said.

For Naval Cmdr. Doug Flannery, Thursday marked his maiden Torch Run.

“It's kind of become an annual tradition for our unit,” said Flannery, a Colorado native who's competed in many marathons.

Marine 1st Sgt. Dave Elliot, an inspection instructor with the local Reserve Center, ran a previous Torch Run in North Carolina some years ago.

“This is a great cause so when they asked us to run, we said 'absolutely,'” said Elliot.

Throughout the morning, members of the Navy and Marines engaged in the friendly rivalry often seen between members of different branches of the armed forces.

“This should be a walk in the park for us,” said Elliot, playfully elbowing Flannery in the ribs.

McCutcheon, who joined the Londonderry police force 12 years ago, said he hasn't missed a Torch Run yet.

“It's been ongoing for us,” he said. “Some years it's been really hot outside, other years it's been cold. You never know what you're going to get.”

The Torch Run is a series of 18 legs covering 800 miles across the Granite State.

The Flame of Hope arrived at the State House later Thursday afternoon, with the torch then making its way to Durham for the Opening Ceremonies at the state Summer Games at the University of New Hampshire.