Travis Manion Foundation hosts 9/11 Heroes Run
Madeline Murray
YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – The Travis Manion Foundation (TMF) hosted the 9/11 Heroes Run Saturday to pay tribute to pay tribute to the lives lost during the 9/11 attack, and also first responders who serve our community.
The run took place from 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. at the Pacific Avenue Athletic Complex East Parking Lot and run along the canal past the Ocean to Ocean Bridge to Gateway Park and back.
“Our mission is to empower Veterans and families of fallen heroes to develop character in future generations, part of that effort is to learn is to learn from history, learn from our fallen heroes, their legacy, their character, and what better way to honor our 9/11 heroes who passed that day,” said Dale Dumo, TMF Yuma Chapter leader.
The Heroes Run is a national initiative that TMF hosts as the Yuma Chapter of TMF has been planning the run for about three months and 100% of the proceeds will go towards TMF’s mission.
The event had many local first responders in attendance, like the Yuma Fire Department, Yuma County Sheriff’s Office, the Yuma Police Department, Marine Corps Community Service, and many more.
“We’re just blown away by everyone that showed up, we were anticipating maybe max 250 registrants, but it blew up the last 12 days up until almost 600 participants,” Dumo shared.
KYMA spoke to participants in the run about why it is important to show up to this event.
“Very important to honor all victims of 9/11, all the first responders who lost their lives on that faithful day,” said David Ibarra, a Yuma resident.
Ibarra says showing up to the Heroes Run is personally meaningful to him.
“As a Veteran and as a retired police sergeant, I’m very honored to be apart of this race,” Ibarra explained.
If you would like to learn more about who Travis Manion was, click here.