Photograph courtesy of Houghton Police Dept. As part of a charitable campaign to raise money for Special Olympics, the Houghton Police Department is selling raffle tickets for this half-gallon jar of Thimbleberry Jam from the Wood’n Spoon.

HOUGHTON – The Houghton City Police Department is conducting a charitable campaign to raise funds for Special Olympics Michigan with events two events scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 6.

The first event is a special 5K walk/run to help raise money for the Flame of Hope Week to help support Special Olympics. The second is a raffle for giant jar of Thimbleberry jam.

Houghton Police Lt. Nick Roberts, said the raffle is to raise money for Special Olympics in advance of the annual Law Enforcement Torch Run (LETR) for Special Olympics, which runs between Sept. 6 and Sept. 12.

Saturday’s run/walk event is not a race, Roberts said, which is why it is promoted as a fun event. “There’s no winners or losers,” he said. “it’s a fun run/walk. We’re not timing it. It’s just to support Special Olympics. We just want people to show up, join in the event, donate some money, and have fun.”

Roberts said while he had previously announced the walk/run event, the thimbleberry jam raffle was not mentioned sooner because the required licensing was delayed.

In Michigan, a license is generally required to hold a raffle, and only qualified non-profit organizations can obtain one. Raffles are regulated by the Charitable Gaming Division of the Michigan Lottery.

The 5K event will start at the Ray Kestner Warterfront Park, in Houghton.

“The fun run/walk will start at 10:30,” Roberts said, “then, when the run/walk is done, we will give out prizes.”

The cost of the raffle ticket is $5.00, Roberts said, but the reason for that amount is the jam is a half-gallon jar, valued at $150. The jam was made by the Wood’n Spoon, of Mohawk. Other prizes are gift certificates for local restaurants and stores.

All proceeds from the Sept. 6 events will go to the Torch Run and Special Olympics. “It means a lot to the young athletes,” Said Roberts. “It means a lot to their friends and families that we support them so well in Michigan.”

Roberts said the Special Olympics are significant to the participants. “That’s what I want to get across to people,” he said. “That is their olympics. It’s so important to these kids. It’s a huge deal for these young adults and kids.”