Great American Relay To Benefit Military And First Responders Coming Tues.

HATBORO, PA — A cross-country run to raise money for the military and first responders that began this past weekend on the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks is scheduled to pass through the area Tuesday evening.

The Great American Relay, which began this past Saturday in Boston and will terminate in Santa Monica, California in just over a month's time, is expected to come through Montgomery County just after 6:30 p.m.

There are a total of 415 stages of the run, with running choosing either one or more states to run, according to information found online about the program.

The run is scheduled to pass by the likes of the World Trade Center in New York City, the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. and Shanksville, Pa., all sites of the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

Each stage of the run has a lead runner who carries the baton with up to 10 supporting runners trailing shortly behind.

The run is expected to cross 18 states, covering 3,500 miles of terrain and taking up to around 38 days.

The Hatboro Police Department announced that the run would pass through that community on Tuesday around 6:45 p.m., with runners trekking along York Road in the downtown part of the borough.

The department said this would be part of Stage 42 of the race, which runs between the Hartsville Fire Station in Warminster, Bucks County, and goes to Abington Township in Montgomery County, ending at the Abington Fire Department.

According to information on the run’s website, Stage 42, which comprises an eight-mile stretch of race, is dedicated to Sam Gallen, a “dedicated Police Officer and Detective,” who retired recently after 41 years in law enforcement.

“It’s been an honor to be his friend for 44 years. Thanks for keeping us safe,” reads the dedication on the website.

According to a 2014 article in the Intelligencer newspaper, Gallen was formerly police chief in Hatboro who went on to become chief detective in Montgomery County before his retirement.

Further information can be found about The Great American Relay on its Facebook page.