Sgt. Patrick J O'Rourke 5.5k and 1/4 Mile Family Hero Fun Run

CANCELED: Sgt. Patrick O’Rourke 5.5k Run/Walk and Family Hero 1/4 mile Fun Run 2020

It is with great sadness that we have decided to cancel our 5th annual Sgt. Patrick O’Rourke 5.5k Run/Walk and Family Hero 1/4 Mile Fun Run. This year’s event would have taken place on Saturday, August 8, 2020.

I cannot ask you wonderful, big-hearted, very generous supporters of our humble event for any monetary gifts at this time. I know that many of you have had struggles with employment and income during the last several months, and many of you have had to make sacrifices for your families.

Thank you for all your help over the past four years, making our event fun, musical, and encouraging for our beloved first responders— our HEROES. They go into communities everyday to take care of us and ensure our safety, never knowing if they will return home, especially these past several months during which we have all faced so much fear and uncertainty.

We continue to pray for their safety and that they may know how much we appreciate the sacrifices they and their families make everyday.

God bless you and keep you healthy and safe.

With so much love and gratitude,

Amy, Angela, Amy and all our wonderful team here at Payitforward55

Here Are Your Options:

Place

Hartland High School Aquatic Center Entrance
10635 Dunham Rd
Hartland, MI US 48353

Description

Time: August 8, 2020 at 8:55am
Location: Hartland High School, 10635 Dunham Rd., Hartland Township, MI 48353

Course: Scenic 5k through historic downtown Hartland, Michigan.

Part of the course will include the Sgt. Patrick O'Rourke Memorial Highway, a stretch of Old US 23, renamed in his honor.

Parking: Hartland High School, 10635 Dunham Rd., Hartland Township, MI 48353

Registration fee: $35 pre-registration with shirt, $25 without. Same day registration $45/35

Race day Registration and Packet Pick Up: Starts at 7:30 AM.

5.5k Race starts at 8:55 AM. Award ceremony starts at 9:45 AM Family Hero Run starts at 10:15am

Awards: To overall Male and Female winner plus top male and female finishers in each age group...

13 and under, 14-19, 20-29 ,30-39 ,40-49, 50-59, 60-69, 70+

Live musicians along the course

Dogs on leash welcome

Strollers and wheelchairs welcome

Race Website

Additional race information can be found at http://payitforward55.com.

Race Contact Info

If you have any questions about this race, click the button below.

We are celebrating First Responders and remembering our hero, West Bloomfield Police Sergeant Patrick J O'Rourke, Badge #55

My best friend and husband of 14 years, devoted father of our four children, Sgt. Patrick O'Rourke of the West Bloomfield Police Department, was shot and killed in the line of duty on September 9, 2012, while attempting to assist a suicidal subject with four fellow officers.

Patrick loved spending time with our family, both immediate and extended. He was very devoted to our church and our community in the Fenton/Hartland area. He and I are both graduates of Hartland High school and St John the Evangelist Catholic Church in Fenton is our home parish.

Through this family friendly event, we'd like to celebrate our First Responders, who like our Patrick, run into dangerous situations without hesitation to keep the members of our communities safe. We want to thank them while we run and walk with them through this beautiful community in which we live. We'd also like to give back to our hometown communities that have taken such great care of our family since our hero was taken from us.

Any profits made from this event will be split between the following community outreach groups:

Michigan Concerns of Police Survivors (MICOPS)
The St. John the Evangelist Fenton Outreach Program
The Fenton High School Athletic Department
Hartland Eye Care and Visual Learning Center -- Sgt. Patrick O'Rourke Vision Therapy Scholarships

A donation will also be made to the Hartland High School Cross Country program for the awesome time and talent they provide us. Without them, our race could not happen.

Patrick's (Or "Rudy" as he became known during his undercover years) badge number was 55. Since he was taken from us, his badge number has become very special to our family. 55 also means, "I'm ok!" in police 10-code. This is a 5k timed event. Once you reach the 5k mark, please keep running. :) Because of our love for his badge number, we will have "Rudy's Home Stretch" to celebrate our Patrick and all First Responders from the 5k mark to our finish line at the 5.5k mark. "Rudy's Home Stretch" will be 0.5 km (0.3miles) long.

We are certain that Patrick, who loved playing his guitars, would NOT have run this race with us. :D He would have instead enjoyed playing his guitar for you. PLEASE enjoy our live musicians along the course.