First, the firefighters will run a 70-mile relay race dressed in 50 to 75 pounds of gear. Then, the fire departments will compete on an obstacle course where the teams will carry weights, drag 150-pound dummies, flip tires and more.
The winning department takes home the Red, White and Blue Helmet Trophy, but that's not why these firefighters will put themselves through such a grueling day in March.
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| John C. Lincoln Hospitals are proud to sponsor the Fit to Fight 2nd Annual Desert Challenge, which raises awareness of health and wellness issues faced by firefighters. |
The Fit to Fight 2nd Annual Desert Challenge honors fallen firefighters and raises awareness of health and wellness issues faced by firefighters. Heart disease is the No. 1 killer of firefighters in the United States.
According to the National Fire Protection Association, almost half of the 1,006 on-duty firefighter fatalities over a 10-year period were caused by sudden cardiac death.
"If we’re not physically fit, we can't do our jobs," said John Gusich, firefighter with the Daisy Mountain Fire Department. Daisy Mountain won the 2008 competition and hosts the event for 2009.
The community is invited to encourage the firefighters at the end of the relay, watch the competition, get health information and participate in family activities with a fire truck, bouncy house, music and a helicopter. Sponsors include John C. Lincoln Deer Valley Hospital and John C. Lincoln North Mountain Hospital, both in Phoenix.
The event will be 4 to 7 p.m. Saturday, March 7, at the Anthem Community Park soccer fields, 3500 W. Anthem Way at North Gavilan Peak Parkway. |