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BUFFALO, NEW YORK: October 20, 2007-The ECMC Lifeline Foundation today will held its eleventh annual 5K Run & Healthwalk fundraiser in Delaware Park, Buffalo. 

This year, event honorees recognized included: Buffalo Police Officers Patricia Parete (unable to attend), Buffalo Police Officer Carl Andolina (in attendance, but unable to compete) and Buffalo Firefighter Mark Reed (in attendance, but unable to compete).  Other 5K Run & Healthwalk law enforcement honorees and for 2007 were: Lockport Police Officer Steven D. Ritchie (as run competitor), Lockport Police Captain Lawrence M. Eggert (unable to attend), and Jamestown Police Detective David Mitchell (as run competitor). 

On December 5, 2006, Buffalo Police Officer Patricia Parete and her partner Officer Carl Andolina were dispatched to a downtown gas station where a fight had been reported.  The officers chased a suspect and ordered him to take his hands out of his pockets when he then began shooting at both officers at point blank range.  Officer Andolina tackled him to the ground.  Both officers were injured in the gun battle, with Officer Parete sustaining severe injuries from a gunshot to the spine.  Officer Andolina was shot three times, treated at ECMC, and discharged on December 7, 2007.  Officer Parete underwent extensive emergency/trauma surgery and care at ECMC and remains in rehabilitation elsewhere. 

Buffalo Firefighter Mark Reed was transported to ECMC on June 10, 2007, after a brick chimney collapsed on him while fighting an arson fire in a vacant house in the City.  Reed arrived at ECMC with multiple, life-threatening injuries.  Yet, after undergoing multiple surgeries and extensive care, Reed was discharged from ECMC on August 1, 2007. 

Captain Lawrence Eggert and Officer Steven Ritchie were injured in the line of duty in February of 2003, during a gun battle with a man they pursued for shooting a Lockport bar patron and riddling a building with bullets with a semi-automatic weapon.  Both officers were injured and treated by ECMC emergency/trauma teams.  Ritchie was brought to ECMC in critical condition.  This year, as returning honorees, both Ritchie (for fourth consecutive year) and Eggert (for fifth consecutive year) will be competing in the 5K event. 

In September of 1999, after sustaining life-threatening injuries when shot in the line of duty, Mitchell was transported to ECMC for emergency, trauma, and follow-up care.   Jamestown Police Detective David Mitchell will participate once again in the run as a returning honoree (for the eighth consecutive year). 

5K Run & Healthwalk competitions included the competitive run as well as a race-walk.  The course is USA Track & Field certified and designated as a "South Buffalo Athletic Association/Runner's Roost Runner of the Year Series" event.  Prizes for the run included those for overall female and male winners, as well as the first three male and female winners in each of 16 age groups.  A special prize was offered to anyone breaking the Buffalo, NY 5K Run record.  Special prize drawings were also offered for: runners/walkers who generate a minimum of $50 in sponsorships, team prizes for best Halloween costume or theme, most enthusiastic, and largest team. 

For more information about the ECMC Lifeline Foundation and its various fundraising events, interested individuals should call 716-898-5800. 

The mission of the ECMC Lifeline Foundation, an independent, not-for-profit, 501(c)(3) corporation, is to assist Erie County Medical Center Corporation in procuring the resources needed to become Western New York's Hospital of Choice through excellence in patient care and customer service. 

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NEWS CONTACT:  Joe Cirillo: 716-898-4300