NASHUA — Nearly 70 city police officers participated in the Law Enforcement Torch Run Thursday, the official kickoff of the Special Olympics summer games in New Hampshire.

In addition to Nashua police, about 10 Merrimack police officers ran in the south leg of the race, along with dozens of officers from other New Hampshire communities.

“A lot of our men are volunteering their own time to do this, including some who are working all night long and then running,” said Sgt. Kevin O’Brien of the Nashua Police Department, who has been active with Special Olympics program for about 15 years.

The Nashua Police Department has raised about $3,000 toward the effort; O’Brien said this is the first year it has had 68 officers participate. Typically, about 50 officers volunteer, he said.

They began their three-mile run at Liberty Hill in downtown Nashua and ran along Concord Street until meeting up with Merrimack police at the old Nashua Corp. building on Daniel Webster Highway.

There, nearly 100 Merrimack high school and middle school students joined a group of Merrimack police officers — including Police Chief Mark Doyle and Sen. Kelly Ayotte — to run a nearly nine-mile stretch along Route 3 into Bedford.

Spearheaded by Mike Murray, Merrimack High School resource officer, Merrimack Police raised close to $2,700 for Special Olympics.

“Each year this race gets a little bit bigger,” said Murray, adding members of the public also took part Thursday.