Lamar County Adopt-A-Cop’s 5K Walk in Their Shoes is set for Saturday at South Main Iron, and organizers couldn’t be more excited.
“We are blessed with wonderful officers in our county,” Lamar County Adopt-A-Cop President and retired police officer Amanda Willows said. “We want to extend our heartfelt appreciation out to everyone in our community who has adopted officers, registered for this event, and has shown appreciation for our officers in their own special ways.”
Willows said this year’s speaker, Trooper Dub Gillum, will share his story of perseverance and courage. This Texas State Trooper was shot 10 times and left on the road to die during a routine stop in Oct. 1998.
Everyone is welcome to join in listening to Trooper Gillum’s speech, and they do not have to be involved in the run or walk.
The run will also feature live music by Fred Erben, a kids fun run, free donuts, and “we will have a (Police) K-9 demonstration by our beloved Cupa.”
“To top the morning off we will have the adoptions gifts to give our officers from our amazing community,” Willows said. “We hope to have numerous participants wearing their blue event shirts and fill the streets with blue in support of our brave men and women who protect and serve us every day.”
The 5K, set for Sept. 19’s National Thank a Police Officer Day, will also have a “special little visitor.”
A local child, Christian, who has been diagnosed with demyelinating brain masses and serious conditions, will also be at the 5K visiting with officers. Willows said Christian strives to be a police officer himself.
Packet pick-up for the 5K starts at 6 p.m. at South Main Iron, 255 1st St SW, on Thursday.
For more local, event stories, click here.
——
Special thank you from Lamar County Adopt-A-Cop:
We want to thank South Main Iron and PPD Interim Chief Randy Tuttle for helping us plan and organize the event, Load Trail, Known Name Roofing, American Towing, Hampton by Hilton, and Topp Gunn Auto Auctions for sponsoring this event and for always being tremendous supporters of our first responders.
We also want to thank Paris Chevrolet, Toyota of Paris, and Hilary McNeal for donating additional gifts to add to our officers’ gift bags, and the local Police Wives and the Paris Dragons Semi-pro football team for hosting rest stations for our participants. Also, thank you to A1 Sanitation for their donated services.
We also want to thank the Paris EMS reserves. They’ve volunteered to be there for the event.
For more information on Lamar County Adopt-A-Cop, visit their Facebook page here.
