The Gatlinburg Firefighter’s Association will be hosting their ninth annual Fit for Duty Firefighter’s 5K and 10K on March 26 at 9:00 a.m. The organization hosts the run (and walk) each spring to bring awareness to cardiac health.
“The event helps to promote health and fitness for the community, and gives the community an opportunity to come and see the fire station and interact with the firefighters,” says Amanda Perryman, with the Gatlinburg Firefighter’s Association. “It also helps to fund the Gatlinburg Firefighter’s Association which provides fire and life safety education to the community. Through Fire Safety education, smoke alarm program, firefighter kids camp, CPR and First aid classes, Child car seat program, and much more.”
This isn’t your average 5K. While members of the general public can sign up and run, the firefighters out there looking for even more of a challenge the 5K can participate in one of the 5K challenges. You can sign up to run in your full gear in the Firefighter challenge or add on your SCBA equipment and compete in the SCBA challenge where you must finish with air still in the tank.
“This event has been a successful and popular one so we continue to have the event year after year,” Perryman says. “My favorite part is just having everyone together for a fun event.”
The association’s mission is to maintain a positive relationship between locals and tourists within the city of Gatlinburg and members of the association. Each of their events aim to positively impact the community in some way. They work to support children and adults outside of Gatlinburg as well as within the greater Sevier County area.
To sign up for the race or to learn more, visit gatlinburgfire.org.