JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Jacksonville firefighters are going above and beyond to help the family of one of their own, fireman Chris Swary, who died in a traffic crash in February.
Swary made a promise to his young daughter that co-workers are now vowing to keep.
One of Swary's favorite activities was participating in fun runs with his 4-year-old daughter, Hailey. He registered to run with her in the Cupcake 5K on April 9. His fellow fighters want Hailey to know she won't be running alone.
They want all of Jacksonville's firefighters to rally around the young girl at the Cupcake Run 5K, which starts at 7:30 a.m. at the St. Johns Town Center.
It will be Hailey’s first attempt at a 5K run, and Swary had promised to support her and run right by her side. Following Swary's death, firefighters vowed to do whatever they could to help his family. They said fulfilling that promise is an honor and a privilege.
The invitation to run with Hailey is open to men, women, and children, but organizers said fathers will have a big impact.
Sheryl Rodgers, who was one of Swary’s close friends and a co-worker, said the firefighters want Hailey to feel their love and support.
"We want to make sure that she has other firefighter daddies. They are not her daddy, but we want her to know she won't be alone the rest of her life. We'll be there for her, her sister and the rest of the family. She'll have other firefighters there, just like her daddy was,” said Rodgers. "We want to make sure that she realizes she's not going to be running alone and she is going to have other firefighters there just like her daddy was, running right alongside of her and supporting her and making she sure she finishes the 3-mile run, since it's her first try at the 3 miles."
Firefighters are also selling T-shirts for $15, and all the proceeds will go to Swary's family.
They said plans are also in the works for a Chris Swary memorial run.
Swary and his fiancée had planned to be married on April 1.
For more information about the Cupcake Run 5K or to register for the run, visit its website.