5K race to benefit first responders set

Organizers currently seeking more local businesses to sponsor the Sept. 12 event

The First Responders 5K run, sponsored by GCXC Race Timing & Management, will take off from the Mentor Police Station on the morning of Sept. 12.

The 5K will begin at 8:30 a.m., with the route starting and ending at the police station, which is located at 8500 Civic Center Blvd. All funds raised from entry fees and donations will be going towards organizations and local departments that support police, fire and medical personnel.

This particular race has had several iterations since it began in 2018, according to organizer Melissa Evans.

It was originally named the Officer Mazany 5K, in honor of Mentor Police Officer Mathew Mazany who was killed in the line of duty earlier that year. The race was organized in an effort to raise funds to help his family members.

Evans said that the race then shifted to become the Blue Ribbon 5K in 2019, still supporting police officers and their family members, and has broadened its scope even further this year to include all first responders.

“We kind of wanted to spread the wealth around a little bit more,” Evans said.

She said that honoring Mazany’s memory remains an integral part of this event, but after the demands put on first responders and healthcare workers across the board over the course of 2020 and beyond, she and the other event organizers wanted to give back.

“It’s just our way of saying thank you, not just for everything they did in 2020, but what they continue to do every single day,” Evans added.

The race fee is $25 per person, and participants will be able to select from a number of organizations upon signup where they would like their entrance fee donated to.

For those not yet comfortable participating in large in-person events but still want to get involved, there will be a virtual 5K option available as well. Evans said that if someone cannot participate but still wants to donate, they can swing by participating sponsor Second Sole, in Mentor, to drop off a donation.

Evans said they are currently seeking more event sponsors, and hoping to get several other local businesses involved in the First Responders 5K. Sponsorship will include opportunities for brand visibility on signage and T-shirts, and businesses may also be able to set up a booth at the event.

The 5K will begin at 8:30 a.m., with the route starting and ending at the police station, which is located at 8500 Civic Center Blvd. All funds raised from entry fees and donations will be going towards organizations and local departments that support police, fire and medical personnel.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF MELISSA EVANS The First Responders 5K began as the Officer Mazany 5K in 2018, to honor and raise funds for the family of fallen Mentor Police Officer Mathew Mazany, who was killed in the line of duty.

The First Responders 5K will be held in Mentor on Sept. 12 to honor police, fire and health care workers. The route will begin and end at the Mentor Police Station.