9/11 Remembrance Run From Ridgewood To NYC To Fundraise For Vets, Cops

RIDGEWOOD, NJ — It is that time of year, Run for Hope Foundation chair Frank DelVecchio said on Facebook, referring to the annual 9/11 remembrance run that he founded 11 years ago.

DelVecchio, who is training to run 26 miles from the Ridgewood duck pond to the World Trade Center in New York City next Sunday, was a 9/11 first responder and worked at the site of the terrorist attacks.

Now he is again asking others, ahead of the 9/11 remembrance run, to support the foundation, which raises funds through running for people in need and programs that serve veterans, first responders and others.

Formerly the police chief in Fairview, Delvecchio started the foundation to raise money for Hurricane Sandy victims, running 106 miles in a little over 30 hours. He also raised nearly $13,000 for Tuesday's Children, a program for children of 9/11 victims, for the first remembrance run, and has done that run for the same purpose every year since.

"I was sitting in my office when I was police chief and came to the realization that it seemed like we were forgetting about what happened that day," he said. "I want to remember those who gave and lost their lives."

So far, the run to remember 9/11, which happened 21 years ago, has provided over $100,000 to people and organizations, DelVecchio said.

"The (Run For Hope Foundation) is nothing without the generosity of others," he said. "Please consider supporting the run this year with a contribution in any amount."

In the past few years, DelVecchio has run 13 miles and rode his bike the other 13; although this year, he said he will try to run the full 26, as he had when he first started the foundation.

"I'm getting older at 53, so it doesn't get easier," he said. "Thank you for all your support."