Charleston Gains Momentum
Where will you be on Saturday, September 10, 2016?
Organizers of the 5th Annual 9/11 Heroes Run - Charleston on Daniel Island hope you’ll be right here - in front of the Charleston Fire & Police Department on Seven Farms Drive, standing alongside local military personnel, first responders, and 9/11 survivors - for what they promise is going to be their most meaningful and empowering event yet. Mark your calendars now. According to Event Director Theresa Faircloth, you won’t regret it.
With the upcoming Memorial Day observance, a day set aside to remember the more than 1.2 million service men and women who lost their lives in the line of duty, The Daniel Island News thought it was a fitting time to get an update on planning for this year’s 9/11 Heroes Run, which coincides with the 15th anniversary of the September 11th terrorist attacks.
“This year will mark 15 years since our country was shaken to its core,” said Faircloth. “On that day, we were all united, regardless of age, religion, political views or social status and on September 10th, we will bring together our community once again to honor those that were lost, their families, and the service and sacrifices of our military and first responders.”
The event not only pays tribute to the victims of 9/11 and our men and women in uniform, it is also an important fundraiser both locally and nationally.
“We want to see our entire Charleston community be a part of this event somehow,” added Faircloth. “There are so many different ways to help. If you can’t sponsor, participate. If you can’t participate, volunteer. If you can’t volunteer, cheer people on!”
Fifty percent of the proceeds from the event benefit military or first responder charities or service providers right here in the Lowcountry, while the remaining 50 percent is donated to the Travis Manion Foundation, a military non-profit organization founded in 2008 in honor of 1st Lt. Travis Manion’s life and commitment to country.
In 2015, the event saw its participation and fundraising more than double from the year before. All total, close to 900 runners and walkers took to Daniel Island streets to take part and a record $55,928 was raised through sponsorships and registrations. After expenses, $19,500 was donated to the Travis Manion Foundation, while $19,500 was split amongst their 2015 local charity partners: City of Goose Creek Fire Department, the C&B Volunteer Fire Department, and the S.C. Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) - Distressed Officers Fund, which provides monetary assistance and support to local law enforcement officers when needed.
“It was an unbelievable year,” added Faircloth. “It’s really impressive to see just how much it grew from one year to the next in every aspect. All of our numbers jumped, everything from our quantity of sponsors to our number of race day volunteers. It’s just been incredible to see!”
The local monies donated from last year’s event have already been put to good use, said Faircloth. Both the Goose Creek Fire Department and the C&B Volunteer Fire Department used the funds to purchase life-saving, survivor flashlights for their entire departments, as well as additional tools, supplies, and training.
“Every firefighter who works within those two departments, every single shift has this top notch, best possible lighting source that a fireman can have on a call,” said Faircloth. “And obviously that’s not just for fires. That’s for car accidents in the middle of the night, searching for missing kids and even medical calls. It attaches to their uniform and it’s hands-free.”
Since 2012, the 9/11 Heroes Run – Charleston event has benefited a total of eight local first responder organizations. Slated to serve as local beneficiaries this year are Berkeley County EMS, Charleston County Rescue Squad, and James Island Public Service District (fire department). Two of these departments have been involved in recent search and rescue efforts for missing people in our tri-county area, added Faircloth, underscoring why events such this are needed.
“It just drives home the importance of what our event is doing for the community and why we need the community’s help to ensure it continues to happen, and that it continues to grow,” she said.
Another key aspect of the 9/11 Heroes Run is recognizing and paying tribute to the event’s guest of honor. This year, it will be Corporal Kimber Gist, a deputy with the Berkeley County Sheriff’s Department who suffered multiple gunshot wounds last February while responding to a call. Faircloth and the rest of the event planning team are eager to have an opportunity to shine the spotlight on a local law enforcement officer as brave and courageous as Gist.
“Cpl. Gist was investigating a suspicious vehicle and ended up being shot multiple times,” said Faircloth. “That’s just one of those situations that you wouldn’t expect somebody to make it through. And she did. And she’s got the best attitude and the best personality…I think having her as a guest of honor this year is going to be really symbolic of the fact that this event is not just a fundraiser. It’s not just a 5K. It embodies so much more than that. It’s showing support for those that put their lives on the line for this community, day in and day out.”
Faircloth is confident Gist will experience a moving, heartfelt show of support at this year’s event, which will also include recognitions of other special guests of honor.
“Can you imagine what it’s going to feel like for her to stand there during the opening ceremonies and see a crowd of people there to listen to her, to support her, and to cheer her on? …We support every branch of service equally. They are all equally important in our eyes, but I do think it’s extremely important, now more than ever for law enforcement officers to see that our community stands behind them…and that we’re here for them and that we appreciate them.”
The 2016 Charleston 9/11 Heroes Run may still be a little over 3 months away, but registration is already open. Those interested in taking part can go to the event website at www.911heroesrun.org, and click on the Charleston event on the map at the bottom of the screen. The event’s official Facebook Page (“9/11 Heroes Run - Charleston”) also offers the latest updates on how to get involved, sponsorship opportunities, upcoming fundraisers, and more.
Two of the event’s Presenting Title Sponsors are Daniel Island-based businesses - CrossFit Discovery and Hudson/Charleston Nissan. CrossFit Discovery Owner Robert VanNewkirk has been a big supporter of the Travis Manion Foundation (TMF) for a number of years, holding an intense, work-out fundraiser for the organization every Memorial Day weekend (their 2016 event, recommended for CrossFit athletes and those with military-style training, will be held this Saturday, May 28, from 9 am to 1 pm at the facility’s Daniel Island location on Pier View Street).
“It’s an organization that you might not hear about all the time,” said VanNewkirk. “But they’re doing stuff. They’re doing stuff that has a real impact. They have an amazing mentorship program to help returning veterans get professional jobs, they have a great memorial segment that helps families remember their loved ones, a really cool initiative that pairs disabled vets and disabled kids, and just all kinds of projects.”
When VanNewkirk learned several years ago that the Charleston 9/11 Heroes Run supported the TMF, as well as other first responders and service members, CrossFit Discovery quickly joined the cause.
“It’s a great event for Daniel Island,” he added. “We all drive by the fire station and the police station…and there are people on the island who work at the Air Force Base. It’s easy to let that fade into the background, but these are people who are ready to go right into harm’s way at any time for us. We have a pretty awesome, cushy life on Daniel Island, which is fine…but there are moments when you should definitely be appreciative of people who allow that to be that way…You can’t bring someone back who has died, but the most respectful thing we can do is not forget.”
Faircloth praised the Daniel Island community for its support of the event in years past and encouraged all island residents and businesses to come out in full force to make the 2016 run the most successful yet.
“On top of the emotional significance of it, I really want them to understand that this event is supporting local first responders…Participating in or sponsoring this event is helping the people that are going to respond to your emergencies. There are a million good causes and other types of events…but how many of them are donating back to the people that are there for us in our darkest days?...That’s the reason we’re doing this.”