Help Ashley raise money

Hello Everyone! This August I will be running the Falmouth Road Race in an attempt to raise at least $2000 for the Last Call Foundation. As many of you know, I am a fire fighter, a medic and an OIF Veteran. I chose this team to join in raising money because I have a very sentimental connection with how the Last Call Foundation began and it's ever growing roll amongst the fire services. 

The Last Call Foundation was founded by the mother of fallen firefighter Michael Kennedy. His funeral was the first ever funeral service I had attended for a fallen fire fighter, and his legacy has left a lasting impression on how I view "the job," and gave depth and meaning to the term "brotherhood," a word you hear often in the fire service. "Brotherhood," is defined as "an association, society, or community of people linked by a common interest, religion or trade."  For me however, this word is not something that is so easily defined in the English language. For me, it is more of a feeling. A feeling that you are damn lucky to experience and exists deep in your core... Michael was a brother, a Boston Fire fighter and fellow veteran. On March 26th, 2014, Michael and his Lieutenant Edward Walsh became trapped in a fire in Boston's Back Bay. The hose line that the pair had so desperately depended on to deliver water to fight the fire as well as provide protection from the flames or lead them out to safety had a catastrophic failure.  The integrity of the supply line was compromised by heat and flames, causing the line to burn through. As a result of this, Michael and Edward never got water. Their radio transmissions of pleas to "Charge the Line" went seemingly unanswered as the two firefighters succumbed to the intense fire conditions that day. Fire fighters from across the country, including myself, listened to these calls for help in utter disbelief. How could this happen? How could this situation be avoided in the future? Michaels own mother asked these same questions, and from that curiosity, The Last Call Foundation was born. Since it's infancy, the LCF has accomplished many great things. Of course, the manufacturing and production of a more fire resistant hose line is at the top of the list. LCF however, has and continues to do so much more. Here are just a few examples of how LCF plays a role in the fire services today.

* LCF funded the Notre Dame Study. A study that successfully identified the presence of PFAS and PFOA (both known carcinogens) in fire fighting turn-out gear. The very gear meant to protect us on calls has been making us sick. 

* LCF is funding the ongoing meta-analysis of all fire service-related research being conducted by Dr. Sara Janke at the Center for Fire, Rescue, and EMS Health Research.

* LCF is funding the study at MGH to investigate PTSD in the fire service. So they are not only looking to protect fire fighters on the fire ground, but to keep them safe when they go home as well. 

* LCF funded the purchase and proper training in the use of ballistic vests for Sturbridge firefighters 

* LCF provided funding to the University of Alabama to identify dermal absorption of PFAS and PFOA (a known carcinogen in turn out gear), as the follow-on to the Notre Dame study 

* LCF has funded and equipped fire departments across the commonwealth AND the country with gear extractors and dryers that remove harmful chemicals and smoke particulates from fire fighting gear after an event. A measure that has proven to reduce exposure of cancer causing agents to fire and ems personnel as well as their families (since many of these dangerous particles continue to off-gas from gear and clothing long after the fire fighter has gone home). 

Again, these are just a few of the many great things this organization is doing. They continue to fund research and provide education to fire departments near and far resulting in a safer, healthier fire service. 

I hope that you will consider making a donation, even if it is small. Something good came of this horrible tragedy that occurred that cold, windy day in Boston. Help me raise the money needed to protect my brothers and sisters and keep us safe. Thank you!

Ashley Alberini