Miles for MnFIRE is a walk across Minnesota that raises awareness and much-needed funds for firefighter health. The more than 150-mile journey kicked off on Sept. 13 in Duluth and is making its way through numerous Minnesota communities, including Esko, Sturgeon Lake, Willow River, Hinckley, Rush City, North Branch, Hugo and Vadnais Heights. The walk ends Sept. 21 at the Minnesota Fallen Firefighter Memorial on the grounds of the State Capitol in St. Paul.
Day 3:
Starting location: Mahtowa, MN
Finish for the day: Sturgeon Lake, MN
Miles completed: 17
Weather report: 75°F and humid
Logging just over 17 miles for the third day in a row, today Minnesota firefighters Doug Foote and Kyle Bode walked from Mahtowa to Sturgeon Lake, completing day three of Miles for MnFIRE. So far, they’ve logged nearly 52 miles of the more than 150-mile journey from Duluth to St. Paul.
Two special flags are also making the journey to the Fallen Firefighter Memorial – one displaying the MnFIRE logo and another representing the fire service. At stops along the way, they are signed by people who want to show their support. Sometimes, people will write the name of a fire service member that they’ve lost. Bode and Foote consider it a true honor to carry these flags and names to the finish line.
“The thin red line flag represents for me, not only our country, but our fire service and the people who choose to serve their communities,” says Foote. “The MN Fire flag, for me, represents hope. Hope that we can impact the devastating numbers of firefighters that are losing their lives to cardiac, cancer, and suicide but also to inspire all who hear the story of this journey.”
Joining our walkers today were several members of the Barnum and Sturgeon Lake Fire Departments. The comradery keeps Foote and Bode entertained and motivated.
“It’s awesome having other firefighters join us,”says Bode. “It gives us a boost and it’s great just hanging out, sharing stories and hearing what it’s like at their departments. It makes the walk a lot more special.”
More firefighters are expected to join the walk in the coming days.
As we’ve now completed one-third of the walk, we’re happy to report that we are over one-third of our way to our fundraising goal of $100,000. With the generosity of sponsors and donors, we’re excited to share that Miles for MnFIRE has raised $40,950. If you’d like to contribute, click here. Every dollar makes a difference.
The team is still on schedule to finish at the Minnesota Fallen Firefighter Memorial on the grounds of the State Capitol in St. Paul on Sunday, Sept. 21. Stay tuned to our blog and follow us on Facebook for more updates along the way. For more information about our route, stops and expected arrival times, click here.
Some photos by Ric Rosow
