What would you call someone who signs a wavier that starts out something like this; I understand that running an extended distance in turn-out gear is insane and might result in bodily harm? The first thing that comes to my mind is crazy but that just does not seem to fit.
This past weekend 56 fire fighters signed that wavier and completed a 75 mile relay. They ran in two man teams with full gear, one carried an air pack while the other carried a flag. The relay started at 7Pm on Friday night and they all finished the run at 9:30AM Saturday. It was an amazing site, as we watch the 56 fire fighters breach the top of a hill in full gear with a half dozen American Flags. As they ran down hill to the finish line you could see the wear and tear from a long night in their faces, their limps, and most of all their smell.
The event did not end with the run, no these crazy men then competed in a shotgun event were each department did things like push-ups, sit-up, squats, carrying fire hoses, dragging huge fire truck tires and so on. This was a sight to see and the determination these men had was amazing. All of this was to support the need for fire fighter to be fit and to pay tribute to those that have Fallen.
Most of us could learn a few things from these men and their determination but there was one man there that was very humbling. He was a fire fighter that completed the event in a wheel chair. He was injured in a fire fighter v.s police hockey game and was told that he would never walk again. He has refused to accept this diagnoses and is well on his way to recovery. He told the group that he would be back for next year's relay and that he would be running! This is a sight I can't wait to see!!
I do not have any pictures of this event just yet but I will update this post as soon as I get them downloaded. Here is a link to a news video on the event.
Dedication and Acknowledgements from Daddy's Thesis
12 years ago
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