A Michigan State Police trooper will help deliver the Flame of Hope to this year’s Special Olympics winter games.

Trooper Jacob Lewis, who works at the Mt. Pleasant post, is one of eight law enforcement officers who will run the torch from Athens, Greece to Turin, Italy. Lewis says the athletes will always be his inspiration.

“The athletes, while they see law enforcement officers as their superheroes, they’re kind of our superheroes,” Lewis said. “And all of these law enforcement officers that I’m going to meet and everyone’s going to get to know each other, we all have the same goal in mind.”

During the eight-day trip Lewis will meet with athletes from around the world before delivering the flame to the Olympic stadium on March 8.