343 Memorial Climb Honors 9/11 Firefighters, Features Family Activities
By Laura Carman

Named in honor of the 343 firefighters who were lost in the World Trade Center disaster on September 11, 2001 and sponsored by the Fallen Heroes Family Support Fund (FHFSF), the Firefighters Benefit Festival aka 343 Memorial Climb will be held at Standridge Stadium in Carrollton on September 19, 2009 from 3:00pm – 7:00pm.

This year will have tons of fun family activities. We are transitioning to a new name, the Firefighters Benefit Festival, because we feel it better describes what the day is about. We will always keep the actual walk to honor the memory of the 343 firefighters that died in New York on 9/11, but I believe it is possible to have fun while supporting a great cause and that is what we want to offer everyone.

The festival will begin with opening ceremonies at 3:00pm. The Walk for Remembrance will begin immediately afterwards. Next up is the children's relay where the kids put on their very own (kid size) bunker gear and compete in a relay especially designed for them. After that is our Desk to Duty Relay, teams from local businesses will leave their desks behind and try out the duties of firefighters in action. The 343 Memorial Climb is next, everyone can cheer on their favorite firefighters, as teams from cities around the metroplex compete to see who will win this year’s trophy.

“A team from Carrollton has won the firefighter competition two out of the five years so far, so I know there are guys out there ready to take away our title, but we’ll bring it home again,” said Jeremy Roberts Carrollton fire fighter/paramedic and event organizer.

Throughout the day participants can enjoy family activities including Giggly Kids (bounce houses and carnival type games) and you can check out a fire engine up close.

A donation of any size is all that it takes to come enjoy the event. Even though you may simply show up the day of, we ask that you go online and register if you would like to participate in the Desk to Duty Relay or the fire fighter competition. Registration for the fire fighter relay teams is $100.

All donations given to the Firefighters Benefit Festival or the Fallen Heroes Family Support Fund will benefit the Texas State Association of Fire Fighters and the Fleetwood Memorial Foundation. These organizations support the families of firefighters who have died in the line of duty with services such as grief counseling, bill paying and scholarships.

Many of us never get a chance to say thank you to the paramedics and firefighters who help us. When we are in need of them it is usually a horrific event and we are concentrating on our loved one or our possessions. When the calm returns, the firefighters have left and we didn’t even know their names. This is our chance to say you helped me and my family and now I want to help you and yours.

Registration for the Firefighters Benefit Festival on September 19 will begin at 3 p.m. at Standridge Stadium in Carrollton, 1330 W. Valwood Parkway. To register now and view a complete schedule of activities, see www.firefightersbenefitfestival.org.

Contact: Laura Carman, 214-207-6548, info@fallenheroesfamilysupportfund.com