Page 26 - June2020 FOP Magazine

The Run Goes On
CPMF Run to Remember boasts miles
of honor for fallen heroes through
this year’s unprecedented virtual 5K
n BY KAREN STAHL
Gina Ibarra had already run the Mag Mile, down Michigan Avenue, past the Wrigley Building, Holy Name Cathedral and Lurie Children’s Hospital with her K-9 Rozi when they reached the point of crescendo in 85-degree heat on May 2: Navy Pier.
Having documented the big sights while running via videos on her In- stagram page under the hashtag #Run2Remember, Ibarra knew that the end was more than a mere conclusion to the 16th annual Run to Remem- ber event with the Chicago Police Memorial Foundation.
The finish line of her virtual 5K chronicle was a spellbinding finale show- ing immense reverence for all the lost heroes who wore the same uniform she proudly suits up every day. She also knew that this year, families and friends of law enforcement officers who have lost their lives would be part of the Chicagoland race community, possibly for the first time, through social media.
“You can hear me in the videos; I’m breathing heavily,” Ibarra remi- nisced. “But I know the importance of the cause, and I pushed myself to do that while still holding my K-9. At the end of the race, I felt an extreme feeling of accomplishment because I knew I had pushed myself.”
And when they finally arrived at Navy Pier, Rozi’s pink tongue lolling from the side of her mouth and Ibarra’s flushed face adorned with a bright grin, the officer went live on Instagram for a final “Thank you.”
As she was sharing her sentiments, a flicker caught her eye. Right in
front of her, shining brightly on the Navy Pier Ferris Wheel, was a sign in the middle that said, “Thank you, heroes.”
“That was it for me,” Ibarra shared. “I said, ‘What a coincidence,’ but it was actually meant for us to finish here. Just to stop at this point and finish it off by saying, ‘Thank you, heroes.’”
Team K-9 Rozi, Ibarra’s team of six members, ended up raising $1,602 for the Chi- cago Police Memorial Foundation through participating in the event.
With social media pushes for fundraising and a virtual 5K that extended outside Chicago, this year’s Run to Remember was unprecedented. Ibarra felt the run held more meaning than it had in previous years as a result of its national reach – she even had a team member in New York whom she’s never met in person reach out over Instagram.
“I can’t even begin to imagine what it would be like if they wouldn’t have been able to do the event this year,” the officer declared. “I was just completely happy that we were able to reach somebody in a different state that said, ‘I believe in you and I sup- port your cause. I’m going to wear the Chicago Police Memorial tee, and I’m going to walk to support it.’”
This year, the top earners for the fundraising event got creative with social media outreach to achieve their goals. Team THOR #14767 clocked in at first place by rais- ing $13,104. Second-place Team Mike Durkin wasn’t far behind at $12,935, and Team Borja #2134 took third place with $9,057 raised.
Team Gary – organized by Kelly Gary, whose husband, Officer Conrad Gary, was tragically killed in a train incident in 2018 – finished in the top 10 through fundraising efforts that reached $6,220.
30 CHICAGO LODGE 7 ■ JUNE 2020
George Velcich (right) and his wife Barb got out in the sunshine to support the Chicago Police Memo- rial Foundation.
Team Gary, organized in remembrance of Officer Conrad Gary, raised more than $6,000 for the 16th annual Run to Remember event.
Officer Gina Ibarra (right) used Instagram videos to chronicle her run with her K-9 Rozi through Chicago on May 2.