Northern Michigan University Fire Marshal Lee Gould, wearing the blue shirt in the center, and others take part in the Marquette Flame of Hope Community Run on Tuesday. The event, which began and finished at the Superior Dome, benefits Special Olympics Michigan. (Journal photo by Christie Mastric)

MARQUETTE — It was “only” a 2-mile run, but Tuesday’s Marquette Flame of Hope Community Run had a greater purpose.

The run benefited Special Olympics Michigan and was presented by the Law Enforcement Torch Run, whose central route in a separate event goes from Copper Harbor to Belle Isle in Detroit. That run came through Marquette on Tuesday.

The community run started and finished at the Superior Dome, with participants traveling a couple of miles in the neighborhood to raise money for the cause. Money raised through Flame of Hope Community Runs throughout the state this week will support Michigan athletes who compete in the Special Olympics year-round at no cost.

Another purpose is to raise awareness for people with intellectual disabilities.

Lee Gould, fire marshal with Northern Michigan University Public Safety, was one of the participants in Tuesday’s Community Run.

“It’s whoever wants to show up at the run, basically,” Gould said. “Area law enforcement, other people that support Special Olympics, are running and biking with us today.”

A group of walkers also joined the event, he said.

Gould took part, he said, to support a good cause: Special Olympics. The run also marked the first time he ran in the event.

Carmen Livingston took part in the run with her son, Ben, who resides in an assisted living apartment in Marquette. They didn’t “run” per se, but rode a tandem bicycle.

“Ben is totally blind and visually impaired,” she said. “We always do biking with him because he enjoys it so much. Today’s pretty cold. My legs didn’t want to work quite right, but we love it. He gets out with his peers. It’s good exercise.”