On Saturday, Kansas Wesleyan University (KWU)  and Bethany College student-athletes will be raising awareness about the Special Olympic programs in Saline and McPherson counties by conducting the second annual Pigskin Pass, a game day “torch run” of a football from the visiting team campus to the site of the annual football game between the Swedes and the Coyotes.

KWU student-athletes are scheduled to meet in the Peters Science Hall parking lot and leave the KWU campus at 3:30 p.m. to begin the run. Runners will depart in the Purple Bus, which will follow each person running. Each runner will be asked to run one mile. The Salina Police Department is scheduled to escort the runners to the city limits. The Saline County Sheriff’s deputies are scheduled to pick up the escort and follow the KWU runners to Assaria.

The KWU group will pass the football to the Bethany students in Assaria at a small park along the north side of town. Runners from Bethany will then complete the run from Assaria to Lindsborg, delivering the game ball prior to the start of the game. The Saline County Sheriff’s deputies are scheduled to escort the Bethany runners to Lindsborg.

The Blue Thunder Special Olympic teams are comprised of athletes from Saline County. They participate in basketball, cheerleading, track and field, swimming, golf, bowling, volleyball, power lifting, and tennis.

The Special Olympic program in Saline County will be providing opportunities for student-athletes to volunteer during the year.