Hero 5K

Distances:
Urban flat 5k
Kids Fun Run - approximately half mile

This charity event takes place in Taylor Michigan’s Heritage Park and is a terrific cause. This special 5K and Fun Run event features a flat and fast course that takes you past some special landmarks in Taylor - the most important being the Taylor Police Department, where the story begins . . . .

The Hero Run is the idea of Shannon Edwards who came up with the idea after watching her children run in the National Police Week 5K in Washington, D.C. 

Shannon and her children were in Washington, D.C. in honor of Shannon’s husband, Corporal Matthew Edwards, who was killed in the line of duty on July 23, 2010. Corporal Edwards was a husband, father and a decorated police officer with the Taylor Police Department in Michigan. He was killed in the early morning hours of July 23rd, 2010 responding to a home invasion.

Struggling to regain their step in life after that great loss was tough. But she noticed that the children’s participation in the D.C. 5K appeared to help them in some way. Their participation seemed to help heal an open wound.

Shannon asked herself if she could create a similar event closer to home that would have the same effect on people. If she could find a way to bring the same feeling they found in Washington, D.C. to Michigan it could help her family, and maybe some others.

She came up with the “Hero Run” to recognize that Cpl. Matthew Edwards is the hero of the Edwards family. Shannon wants all participants and supporters of the event to remember and commemorate their heroes by dressing as their hero, or as a super hero, and to strive to help others as Corporal Matthew Edwards did. 

Shannon also created the Corporal Matthew Edwards Memorial Foundation to promote causes that support the legacy of her husband. The National Police Officers Memorial in Washington, D.C. benefits from the funds, which support the Taylor Police Officers who are sponsored to ride in the fundraising ride to the memorial each year. A student at Schoolcraft College will receive the Corporal Matthew Edwards Legacy Endowed Scholarship. The foundation also provides support and services to the survivors and children of officers killed in the line of duty.

The “Hero Run” is one of the events created to help raise funds and bring awareness to this important cause. Hopefully this will become an annual event.