9/11 to be backdrop for walk across state
Event a fundraiser for firefighters with cancer
Macomb Township firefighter Joseph Warne means to mark 9/11 in a particularly significant way this year as he has planned his annual fundraising trek to the Grand Rapids area around this date.
“9/11 really put occupational cancer on the map for the fire service,” Warne said.
When he is not fighting fires with the Macomb Township Fire Department, Warne is fighting poverty, cancer and other causes through his nonprofit Neighbors United.
Firefighters with cancer is a cause that the organization supports with fundraisers throughout the year, culminating in #walkforthered140. As soon as one year’s walk concludes, Warne resets the clock to start fundraising for the next year’s walk.
“We actually start raising funds almost immediately after the walk. We do coin drives, bottle drives, online fundraisers. So far we are at approximately $32,000 and climbing,” Warne said.
This year the cause has also received support from other companies and organizations who have held fundraisers, according to Warne.
For the annual #walkforthered140, Warne walks about 140 miles in full fire gear from Macomb Township to the Grand Rapids area, raising funds for firefighters with cancer statewide.
“This year we started training in December instead of three months prior. I have lost 30 pounds and have been using a 50 pound weight vest on my off days, and my gear on days I shift,” Warne said. “We walk five miles every other day and once a week we do 10 to 15 miles. We also have been training with light weights.”
Warne is planning to begin this year’s walk at Macomb Township Fire Station 2 on 21 Mile Road, west of Romeo Plank Road, in Macomb Township. The walk will end at Cascade Township Fire Station 2, located at 2990 Buttrick in Cascade Township, east of Grand Rapids. The walk will begin on Sept. 9 and conclude on Sept. 12. This year marks the third annual #walkforthered140.
“We are asking everyone to get here by 7:30 a.m. on Sept. 9, 2021, at 17800 21 Mile Road, Macomb, Michigan,” Warne said. “There is a short ceremony to kick off the walk. We are hoping to be walking by 8, 8:15. We have a few extra things in the works but not confirmed. We do plan on having our trucks lead us out of Macomb Township.”
Warne said that this year’s route will be slightly different, as he plans to attend services at a 9/11 memorial in Lansing.
“We meet with Lansing fire at Clippert and Michigan Avenue. They will lead us to the 9/11 Memorial where we will sit through the ceremony. Then Lansing will guide us through downtown and back onto Grand River Road into Delta Township,” Warne said.
On his walk, Warne will be joined by four to five vehicles. He is also seeking firefighters to join him on his journey for portions of the walk, or the entire walk. Interested firefighters can contact via email at neighborsunitedmi@gmail.com or call 940-368-2031 if they want to walk the entire way or for an entire day. Civilians are welcome to also join the walk at any time.
“From what we are hearing there will be more firefighters joining the beginning this year than previous years. We also have some of the wives and children of the fallen firefighters joining us. We will also be joined by other departments as we walk through their city,” Warne said.
Prior to the walk, a link will be available on the Neighbors United Facebook page to accept donations for the walk’s cause of assisting firefighters with cancer.
“On Aug. 28 we will be creating a Facebook link. This is the easiest way for one to donate for the #walkforthered140. People can also find us while we are walking and donate cash or checks. Venmo and Cash App will also be available. Just put in the word firefighter @neighborsunitedmi $neighborsunitedmi,” Warne said.
Warne has set a $50,000 goal for the total amount of funds he hopes to raise for firefighters with cancer in 2021. Currently, there are 12 firefighters on the list to receive funding from cities including Ann Arbor, Sterling Heights, Detroit, Lake Township, Delta Township, Spring Arbor, Midland, Monroe, Macomb, Ashley and Grand Rapids.
“Out of the 12, seven have passed away and one is fighting for his life and not looking good,” Warne said.
Firefighters with cancer interested in being considered to receive funds from Neighbors United can send a Facebook message via facebook.com/ neighborsunitedmi or contact via email at neighborsunitedmi@gmail.com. Warne said that firefighters with cancer can join the list up to a week after the walk ends, which allows for proper allocation of funds.
“If a firefighter passes the funds will go to the next of kin or the department they worked for,” Warne said.