New Honorees for Annual Firefighters Memorial 6K Race

Saturday, June 09, 2012

GoLocalWorcester Lifestyle Team

The Worcester Firefighters Memorial 6K, which started 12 years ago as a way to honor their fallen comrades, now attracts nearly 1000 runners to this community event.

Runners will take their marks at 1:00 pm in Institute Park. Pre-registration is today at the Fiddler’s Green Irish Cultural Center from 12 to 5 and costs $30; race-day registration is $35.

In Memory of Fallen Firefighters

The Worcester Firefighters Memorial 6K began as a way to raise money for a permanent memorial fund honoring the six victims of the Worcester Cold Storage Warehouse fire.

James Lyons, Thomas Spencer, Paul Brotherton, Timothy Jackson, Jeremiah Lucey and Joseph McGuirk all died on December 3, 1999, when they were trapped in the warehouse while they were searching for homeless people in the building.

This year's race also honors firefighter Jon Davies, who died in a building fire on December 8, 2011, and Lieutenant Maurice “Mo” Zingarelli, who passed away unexpectedly on February 2, 2012, as well as the original Worcester 6.

Race Supports Local Charities

Race proceeds the first year went to support the Firefighter's Memorial Fund.

Ever since then, all proceeds have been redirected to various charities in an effort to give back to the community. To date, $350,000 has been raised.

“Our race is about community,” said Worcester Fire Lieutenant John Franco. “We wanted to try and give back as much as we could to the community after the ’99 fire and this past year because the community came together and gave us so much.”

This year’s proceeds will go to the Jon Davies Children Fund, and NEADS, which trains service dogs. The Worcester Fire Department has funded the cost of training two dogs, one named Rescue for Jon Davies, and the other named Mo for Maurice Zingarelli. Other recipients will be Community Harvest Project, which farms for hunger relief, Genesis Club, which assists individuals with mental illnesses.

Last Year's Results

Last year, the race brought in almost 1,000 runners. The first two men to cross the finish line were 21-year-old Stephen Polito, with a time of 17:45.39 and 39-year-old Greg Ward, with a time of 18:16.54. Kim Chula-Maguire, 36, was the first woman to finish, with a time of 21:51.83, and Cat Lariviere, 24, followed shortly after with a time of 22:03.77.

A Community Celebration

Not a runner? Not a problem. The 6K race is only one of the many attractions. The event will also feature a performance by Worcester Firefighters Pipes and Drums, a live DJ, free barbecue, free massages, clowns, prizes, a silent sports auction at the park and a post-race party at Tweed’s on Grove St.

Enjoy this post? Share it with others.

Email to a friend Permalink