Running to Remember
Australian and American emergency workers run from L.A. to N.Y.C. to remember Sept. 11

We’ve all heard the term “extreme sports,” but what about “extreme dedication” or “extreme honor”?

Thirty-six emergency workers from the United States and Australia are currently showing their devotion to their fallen brothers and sisters in a most extreme way. They’re running across the country—all 4,600 miles, from Los Angeles to Ground Zero in New York City—to ensure that no one forgets the sacrifices made by their colleagues on Sept. 11.

On Aug. 12, at exactly 8:46 a.m.—the time the first plane struck the World Trade Center’s North Tower on Sept. 11—firefighters, paramedics and other emergency personnel representing various agencies took off running from the Santa Monica Pier near Los Angeles, heading toward New York City, where they will arrive on the morning of Sept. 11.

This is all part of the Tour of Duty 2010, a joint effort between Australian and American firefighters to honor the sacrifices of the fallen, respect their courage and appreciate their commitment to service and devotion to duty. They also run to acknowledge the suffering that so many others have endured as a result of the attacks of Sept. 11, to acknowledge emergency services globally, and to reinforce all that is good about humanity.

Visit the Tour of Duty website to learn more about how you can donate to this amazing cause. Donations will go to various charities and organizations, including the Tribute WTC Visitor Center, the National September 11 Memorial & Museum, the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (NFFF), the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund, the Wounded Warrior Project and the Clinton Bush Haiti Fund. All Australian donations will go to Australian burn units.

On the website, you can read the full history of how this run came together, view photos and video (updated regularly), read the runners’ blogs and track the runners’ progress via GSP tracking. You can also download the song “Heroes,” which was written by Annabelle Eve Priftis especially for this event.

Most of us will never have an opportunity to show our dedication to our colleagues in this way. Because we can’t be there to run the entire 4,600 miles ourselves, let’s do whatever we can to share in their journey and support their amazing efforts. They’re an inspiration to all!

American Runners
Ben Erickson (Paramedic)
Bradley Iverson (North Las Vegas Fire Department)
Brian O’Grady (FDNY)
Brian Usher (FDNY)
Brisbin Skiles (Paramedic)
Bryan Bean (FDNY)
Daniel Steffens (Port Authority Police Department)
Darcy Loewen (North Las Vegas Fire Department)
Greg Matusoff (New Orleans Fire Department)
Gregory Koehler (Paramedic)
James Dowdell (FDNY)
Jeff Buchanan (North Las Vegas Fire Department)
John Melia (North Las Vegas Fire Department)
Kevin O’Connor (FDNY)
Liam Flaherty (FDNY)
Micah Reyes (North Las Vegas Fire Department)
Patrick Maloney (Chicago Fire Department)
Robert “Rob” Wills (Las Vegas Metro Police Department)
Ryan Green (North Las Vegas Fire Department)
Sergio Reynoso (North Las Vegas Fire Department)

Australian Runners
Ben Schmidt (Northern Territory Fire & Rescue Service)
Bradley Hosking (Osborne Park Fire Station. WA)
Johnny McGirr (Australian Capital Territory)
Jon Sculley (Melbourne Fire Brigade)
Leon Colbert (Queensland Fire & Rescue Services)
Marc Bradley (Melbourne Fire Brigade)
Michael Jones (CFA, Frankston Fire Brigade)
Mike Tagell (South Australian Fire Service)
Nick Beattie (New South Wales Fire Brigades)
Paul Buttifant (Melbourne Fire Brigade)
Paul Ritchie (Melbourne Fire Brigade)
Rachel Cowling (Metropolitan Fire Brigade Melbourne)
Robbie Frey (Queensland Fire & Rescue Service)
Russell Fox (Melbourne Metro Fire Brigade)
Steven Percival (Hobart Fire & Rescue Service)
Tony Martin (Melbourne Fire Brigade)

Watch for the December issue of FireRescue magazine, which will include a post-event article about the Tour of Duty 2010.