For the fifth year in a row, Macomb Township firefighter Joseph Warne will make a 140 mile journey across Michigan, including through Livingston County, while wearing full firefighter gear.
The #walkforthered began in 2019 when Warne kept hearing about fellow firefighters who were fighting cancer and learned that occupational cancer was the leading cause of death for firefighters. Each year since, he makes the walk to raise money for those firefighters making that fight. He says this year, there are 56 from across the state who he’ll be raising money for.
Warne says since last year’s walk, they’ve lost 19 firefighters to cancer. Among them was Lt. Steve Moor of the Howell Area Fire Authority, who died last October after a battle with pancreatic cancer. Last year, Moor managed to meet up with Warne as he trekked across Livingston County to thank him personally for what he was doing. Moor’s absence this year will be deeply felt by Warne and others.
The #walkforthered will begin Thursday at Macomb Township Fire Station 2 on 21 Mile Road, west of Romeo Plank Road. Warne will then make his way to M-59 and finish out the day at the White Lake Township Firefighters Local 5295 station.
Friday, September 8th, will see Warne continue west on M-59, crossing into Livingston County and proceeding to Michigan Avenue and Grand River in Downtown Howell, before starting Saturday in Downtown Lansing and taking Grand River all the way to Ada, east of Grand Rapids, where the walk ends on Sunday.
Information and donation information can be found at walkforthered.org. Donations via Venmo are accepted at @neighborsunitedmi and via Cash App at $neighborsunitedmi.
There will also be a follow-up event to honor Moor. The Steve Moor Memorial #walkfortheRED will take place on Sunday, October 15th at Howell High School at 11 a.m. The entry fee of $ 25 per person will include a t-shirt & refreshments. Details can be found at; https://www.walkforthered.org/product/steve-moor-memorial-walk/14
