ShawneeDispatch.com

A large group of Shawnee firefighters gathered Saturday to wish Greg Vaughn luck on — and thank him for — the 50-mile trek he was about to make.

Vaughn left Shawnee Fire Station 71 at 7 a.m. to run 15 miles to Olathe, where he planned to run another 35 miles in the annual Patriot Run at The Great Mall of the Great Plains. The Overland Park resident has been dedicating his marathon-length or longer runs to those who had fallen in service of their country for the last several years, and he decided that Saturday’s run would be made in honor of Shawnee Firefighter John Glaser, who died in the line of duty May 22.

Vaughn, 41, said he began running about seven years ago and four years ago started carrying the American flag and dedicating his longer runs honor fallen soldiers, firefighters, police, and EMS workers who have given their lives to the service of America. He formed a non-profit organization called “Strides of Pride” to support his cause.

The Patriot Run, which is now in its seventh year, lasts for nine hours and 11 minutes. Vaughn said because he considers it a home town race, he tries to add some meaning in how it is run — in this case, adding to the total mileage and starting the run at the fire station where Glaser worked.

“I try to make it an extra special event for someone like John, who has given back so much to the country and the citizens of Shawnee,” Vaughn said.

Vaughn said he decided to dedicate this year’s Patriot Run to Glaser after learning that, in addition to serving his country as a Marine, Glaser was inspired to leave the corporate world and join the fire service in part by the events of Sept. 11, 2001. Glaser then gave his life searching a burning house for occupants believed to be inside.

“To sacrifice your very existence to save a complete stranger; I can’t think of anything more heroic,” Vaughn said.

Vaughn also planes to participate in the first John Glaser Memorial Run, scheduled Oct. 2 at Fire Station 71.

In 2011, Vaughn plans to run 3000 miles across America to remember the 3000 victims of September 11th. For updated route details of the John Glaser run, please visit www.stridesofpride.org.

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