Fun and run at the Hometown Heroes 5k

BY SAMUEL JONES

FOR THE LAFAYETTE SUN

CHAMBERS

COUNTY — The East Alabama Fire District is teaming up with Valley Parks and Recreation to bring the community together for a spring morning of fitness and fellowship.

The inaugural 5k Fun Run with Heroes will take place Saturday, April 25 at 9 a.m. at Shawmut Airport in the City of Valley. The event invites residents of all ages to run, walk, push a stroller or simply cheer from the sidelines alongside local first responders.

Mandy Saliba, a firefighter helping organize the event, said the idea started as a simple conversation at the station.

“We were just sitting around at the station one day trying to get some people into shape, and one of our medics had run a race for Valley Parks and Rec at Christmas and really enjoyed it,” Saliba said. “[The medic] said, ‘What if we did something similar?’ And it just kind of snowballed from there.”

The event will also give participants the chance to literally run alongside those who serve them.

“You can run with your firefighters, your police, your EMS personnel — any first responders,” she said. “It’s really about creating more of a sense of community.”

Saliba said community connection is at the heart of the event.

“Being a part of the community and having them see us as real people — people they can depend on — is one of the top things,” she said. “We’re really trying to get into community outreach more as a department, doing more events and being more visible.”

She added that events like this can help ease fear of emergency personnel, especially among children.

“It’s good for especially younger people to see that fire and EMS isn’t scary,” Saliba said. “If you see an ambulance or fire truck pull up at your house, you’re not scared — you’re like, ‘Oh, I know them. We ran with them in the 5k.’ In a smaller community like Valley, it makes it more personal.”

The 5k is designed to be inclusive rather than competitive.

“[The event is for] families, children — really anybody at any level,” Saliba said. “You can walk, you can run, you can roll a stroller. You can just have a good time.

“You can be as competitive as you want, but that’s not really our goal,” she said. “It’s just for people who want to run and have a good time on a Saturday morning.”

Registration is $30 per participant and includes a race shirt and a finisher medal for all participants. The department is also hoping to include vendors and a small post-race celebration to encourage people to stay and mingle.

Saliba said she hopes participants leave with more than just a medal.

“I hope people leave with more of a sense of community and a little bit of camaraderie with the responders they see day in and day out,” she said.

The department is currently seeking sponsors to help make the event more affordable and expand future community efforts.

“Any little bit helps,” Saliba said. “Sponsors can help us provide more for families beyond just the registration fee that covers T-shirts and medals. Any sponsors who would like to participate and get their name out there can contact me.”

Residents are encouraged to lace up their running shoes and join their hometown heroes on April 25.