Mass. First Responders Compete in Stair Climb for Charity

Wicked Local South/Mariner, Marshfield, Mass.

Jan. 17—Joseph Downing, Jr. remembers how the 100 Club of Massachusetts came to his mother's side almost immediately after his father, a Boston firefighter, died in the line of duty.

Downing was five years old at the time.

"They have been doing great things for us ever since," the Scituate resident said of the Club, a charity that supports the families of law enforcement officers and firefighters who are killed in the line of duty.

Now, as an adult, Downing is giving back to the organization that means so much to himself and his family.

A managing director and partner at Alantra, a global investment bank with U.S. headquarters in Boston, Downing secured company sponsorship for the Boston Bruins Foundation's BFit First Responder Challenge.

The 2nd Annual Challenge will take place on Sunday, Jan. 28 at Boston's TD Garden. Local first responders and fitness enthusiasts from all over New England are invited to participate in a course throughout TD Garden. The Challenge directly benefits The 100 Club of Massachusetts, founded in 1959 to support the families of police officers and firefighters in all 351 Massachusetts cities and towns, as well as families of the Massachusetts State Police and the MBTA Transit Police.

"I cannot say enough about them," Downing said of the 100 Club of Massachusetts. "They provide some financial support right away. They provide legal support right away. They also step in for psychological and emotional advisory. After that, they are just there to help. They do things for the families all the time. They know they can't replace having a dad but they do things to make the family happy."

For example, the Club hosts an annual Christmas party for families and they give families tickets to the Red Sox, the Boston Pops and other special events.

"They send little thoughtful gifts on different holidays, Mothers' Day, Easter to let you know they're thinking of you," Downing said.

They pay for kids to attend summer camp for a couple of weeks, and assist in covering the costs of college tuition.

The Club takes pride in making a personal connection with all of our beneficiary families.

"There's always s something to look forward to with the 100 Club," he said.

The Club doesn't go out and publicize who they are or what they do. Many folks, including police and fire personnel, don't even know they exist until tragedy strikes.

"If something happened to them, the 100 Club would be right there," Downing said.

Downing met the president of the 100 Club some time ago and expressed his desire to get involved. Downing was told about a fundraiser benefiting the organization, sponsored by the Boston Bruins, and that it would be great if he could help.

In addition to making a monetary donation, Alantra also raised a civilian team, which Downing is part of. His two daughters, ages 17 and 23, are also on the team.

"They know how much the 100 Club did for their father and grandmother and believe in giving back," Downing said.

Downing has a couple of other teams participating in the challenge, including Boston Fire Department—from the same South Boston department his father worked, and a team a police officer friend started.

"I went out and tried to get people interested," he said. "I brought up the idea to Jim Gilmartin and presented the idea to the Scituate Fire Department as well."

As a sergeant with the Scituate Police Department, Jim Gilmartin is taking part in the challenge "to support fallen first responders who have made the ultimate sacrifice, and their families."

Gilmartin's two sons will also participate.

"Both my sons have a very high level of respect and gratitude for all first responders and military personnel," he said.

This is the first time Gilmartin, who personally knows folks who have benefitted from the 100 Club, has participated in the challenge.

"I've been concentrating on running stairs, as that is part of the challenge," he said of the training he has been doing to prepare for the event.

He hopes to raise $1,000 for the charity.

Scituate firefighter/paramedic Jodi Corrigan is also participating in the Challenge as part of a team with a fellow firefighter from Kingston.

"I will be wearing at least all of my turnout gear," she said, adding it's unclear at the moment if it's recommended to wear air packs as well. "I'm waiting for an answer back."

Corrigan has participated in a few firefighter stair climbs over the past few years.

"One was for leukemia and lymphoma another for lung cancer," she said. "I heard about this event from other firefighters and thought it sounded like a good fundraising event for a great cause."

She said she hasn't added anything extra to her workout routine "but I've been more adamant about making sure I get to the gym five times a week to prepare."

Downing is grateful to everyone who is taking part in the Challenge or who is supporting someone who is.

"I'm looking forward to being involved with a bunch of people who are trying to do something for others," he said.

For more information on the First Responder Challenge, visit nhl.com/bruins/community/foundation-first-responder-challenge.

For information on The 100 Club of Massachusetts, visit 100clubmass.org.

Donations towards Sgt. Gilmartin's goal may be made directly at the Scituate Police Department, 800 Chief Justice Cushing Highway (Route 3A) or by visiting crowdrise.com/search/combined-results/scituate+police+100.

Donations towards firefighter/paramedic Jodi Corrigan's team may be made by visiting crowdrise.com/bfit-challenge1/fundraiser/jodicorrigan.

"Thank you to all who donate and support our first responders," Gilmartin said."We cannot do our job without the support of the community."