All aboard for the Annual Peninsula Firefighter Relay!
The Annual Peninsula Firefighter Burn Relay was a huge success this year, bringing in donations of $30,695, with presentations from Mt. View and Menlo Park’s pancake breakfasts and the Daly City poker tournament, raising the total to $64,829! More than 20 emergency vehicles started at the NASA Ames Fire Department at Moffitt Field and drove up the peninsula to the Division of Training in San Francisco. Despite facing budget cuts, the local fire departments have raised funds by hosting pancake breakfasts, hockey games, chili cook-offs, spaghetti feeds and fill-the-boot drives up and down the peninsula in support of AARBF. Event coordinators, Jim Demattei and Steve Besozzi, put together another 16-stop successful event to raise support and awareness for AARBF burn survivor services and burn prevention education programs.
We were even lucky enough to have a few of our Champ Campers and their families there to join in the festivities! One of those survivors, 8 year old Chloe, was able to see firsthand the work done by third parties to ensure children can attend Champ Camp at no cost. “Because of everything that the Alisa Ann Ruch Burn Foundation has done for me, I am asking for donations to the Foundation instead of birthday presents this year,” said Chloe.
Chloe gets a firsthand peek at the donation check presented to AARBF!
AARBF extends a special thanks to:
- Steve Besozzi and Jim Demattei for organizing another successful relay.
- CHP and local police departments that kept the relay moving and safe, and to Brandon Vaccarro of the Peninsula Fire Buffs for arranging the coverage.
- NASA Ames Fire Department at Moffett Field for breakfast and hosting the morning kickoff.
- Foster City Fire Department and Fire Chief Tom Reaves for lunch.
- Colma Fire Department & Colma Firemen’s Social Club, Fire Chief Geoff Balton and Mark Goodman for their ice cream social at the fire house.
- San Francisco Black Firefighters Association, led by Kevin Smith, for dinner at the Division of Training.
- San Francisco Fire Department Fire Chief Joanne Hayes-White and the SFFD for hosting the finale at the Division of Training.
- San Francisco Fire Credit Union, Glenn Gortney for their support of AARBF’s annual relays and events
- Burn survivors for taking time out of school and work to be on the relay: Chloe, Timothy, and their parents.
- Sarah “Gypsy” Burton for riding in the advance car and keeping things running smoothly and on schedule.
- All the stations and participants who participated in the event. Thank you!
