Police and Special Olympics athletes are poised in the starting blocks for a memorable relay through central Whangarei.
They are part of the Law Enforcement Torch Run (LETR) in the lead-up to the eighth Special Olympics New Zealand Summer Games in Dunedin starting this month.
The "Flame of Hope" begins its journey in Whangarei on Saturday on the first of 16 legs.
Whangarei Special Olympics vice-chairman Martin Barrie said it was an honour to have the relay start in Whangarei and he hoped 30 athletes would take part.
"The police support has been fantastic and for us it's wonderful; the whole relay starts here in Whangarei," Mr Barrie said.