TUCSON, Ariz. — Runner's braved the chilly Saturday morning temperatures to run the Border Patrol 5k race.
Holly Schadt and Kelley Meshirer founded the organization BP101, which helps raise money for the spouses of border patrol agents. They started this race 7 years ago to raise money to honor border patrol agents fallen in duty
"It's important to remember them. They paid the ultimate sacrifice with their life to provide safety for our community," Schadt said.
In 7 years, the organization has been able to raise about 200,000 dollars.
Some of the money they raise goes to providing financial support to the spouses of fallen boarder patrol, whereas the rest is put in to create scholarships.
They've been able to give out 5 scholarships to spouses of border patrol agents in the Tucson Sector.
People of all ages came out in the community to run the race, even some border patrol.
"I run to support my green family and all the fallen," Casey Shoemaker, Border Patrol Agent, said.
Some of the runners wore one of these ruck sacks to simulate what agents have to go through in the field. Inside the ruck sake are any supplies an agent may need while hiking.
They weigh about 20 pounds on an average day, but the runners made them weigh 40 to add the additional weight an agent might have to carry.
For Kelley and Holly, they said it's a privilege to put together this race.
"They're 12 heroes that we hope we never have to add to the list but we will always remember these guys as long as we're able too."
The following are the names of the 12 agents they honor:
William McKee EOW: 1926
Lon Parker EOW: 1926
Victor Ochoa EOW: 1983
Alexander Kirpnick EOW:1998
George Debates EOW: 2004
Nicholas Greenig EOW: 2006
David Webb EOW: 2006
Michael Gallagher EOW: 2010
Brian Terry EOW: 2010
Nicholas Ivie EOW: 2012
Alexander Giannini EOW: 2014
Manny Alvarez EOW: 2016
To read more about this organization, go to their website: https://www.bp101fund.org/
