Warmer weather means running, and on June 22, area residents can attend the Back the Blue 5K, an event intended to strengthen bonds of trust between communities and local law enforcement.
This intention is also the mission statement of Back the Blue 5K, an events organization founded by Joseph Murphy.
The local event in Bradford will be held at the Richard and Ruth McDowell Sport & Fitness Center at the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford.
Murphy, who is a former police officer for Baltimore City and Montgomery County, Md., left law enforcement due to injuries he suffered during a police pursuit. However, Murphy’s mission comes from the experiences he had while on duty.
“During my career, there were a number of high-profile incidents that drove a wedge between police and their local communities. I saw the effects firsthand—a suspicion of motives, a decline in cooperation and less willingness to support the needs of law enforcement (including funding for critical equipment),” Murphy said, per a statement on the organization website. “This growing divide was extremely upsetting to me, as it has been to anyone who risks their lives to protect and serve. I realized that, somehow, we had to work together to unite communities with their local law enforcement agencies.”
There will be both a 5K race and a fun run on June 22. The 5K race begins at 10:15 a.m., with the fun run to follow at 11 a.m. Registration and packet pickup is set for 8:45 a.m., and the program starts at 10:05 a.m. An awards ceremony will follow the fun run at 11:30 a.m.
Cost of registration is as follows: $45 for both virtual registration and race level, both of which include a t-shirt, a medal and a bib. Virtual registration includes shipping as well.
For kids age 12 and under, registration is free. However, for those who want to receive a t-shirt and medal, the cost is $20. For anyone registering for one mile, the $20 fee includes a t-shirt as well.
Other events scheduled in 2019, according to the events organization website, include 5Ks scheduled in Gardner, KS, in June; in Fort Gibson, OK, Jones, OK, and Pensacola, FL in August, Auburn, WA, in September and Shepherd, MI, in October.
A share of the revenue from race registration goes to the William Hanley Lodge #67 FOP.
