Honouring fallen police and peace officers, runners make their way through Belleville on Friday September 23, 2016. (Photo: Nicole Kleinsteuber / Quinte News)
‘We are never going to forget their sacrifice.’
That’s the fuel that keeps runners like Peel Region Sargent Matt Small driven to keeping the memories of fallen officers alive.
He was one of a handful of officers and supporters who made their way through the Quinte area Friday as part of the National Peace Officers’ Memorial ‘Run to Remember.’ The annual run began Thursday at the Ontario Police Memorial site in Toronto and ends at the National Memorial on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Saturday.
Small has been running the 460 kilometer relay-style run for 10 years now and said there are two things that keep him focused out there on the road.
The run which began in 2005 with 24 runners now sees around 300 participants including Mandy Gornicki who hails from Britain. She says she is really proud to be the first police officer from the United Kingdom to take part.
On Thursday, hundreds of bikers made a stop in Belleville as well, on their way to Ottawa.
The run has raised over $232,000 for the families of fallen officers trust funds.
For more details or to donate visit http://www.npomr.org/index.php
