Storms headquarters on Olivia Street.
DERBY — For 75 years, Storm Engine Co. Ambulance & Rescue Corps has raced to help people in need. Now the community can give back by running in the nonprofit’s inaugural 5K road race.
The race – which will raise money for the Storms – is scheduled for 7 p.m. July 10 and will start and finish on Park Avenue, behind Bad Sons Brewery in west Derby.
“This is going to be the signature community event of our 75th Anniversary season,” said Storms Chief Thomas Lenart, Sr.
Lenart said hosting a road race seemed like an appropriate way to celebrate Storms’ longstanding involvement and dedication to the community.
He said his three kids have all participated in various 5K and 10K races, as well as half and full marathons, and the feeling of community is something Lenart wants people to experience with this race.
“The races galvanize a spirit of overcoming obstacles, bonding with all of the participants across all walks of life and helping them meet their goals,” Lenart said. “Running the races requires dedication, training and learning how to improve.”
Lenart said Storms’ volunteers, like distance runners, have can-do attitudes and don’t quit until the job is done.
“Our people interface with the public on medical emergencies and rescue calls recognizing that the public we serve are dealing with some of the worst days of their lives,” Lenart said. “For those reasons, we feel the race is an appropriate way to share what we do and the never-give-up mindset of a distance runner.”
Those interested in registering for the 5K can visit this link.
On race day, Lenart said portions of Park Avenue, Cedric Avenue, Hawthorne Avenue and Chatfield Street will be closed to traffic to ensure the safety of the runners.
There are also several sponsorship opportunities available, including Chief Level Sponsor ($1,000); Captain Level Sponsor ($750); Lieutenant Level Sponsor ($500); Water Station Sponsor ($500); Mile Marker Sponsor ($300) and Friend of the Storm Ambulance Corps Donation ($100).
The sponsorship perks vary from complementary race entries and shirts, to sponsored logo placements, to recognition during the awards ceremony.
Celebrating the Storms’ 75th anniversary brings back a flood of memories for Lenart, who has been involved in fire and emergency services in Derby since 1973. He joined Storms in 1976, when he was a Derby police officer.
“I remember taking a call where our patient was in cardiac arrest,” Lenart said. “We worked on him for quite a while and got him to the hospital with a pulse.”
Lenart recalled years later when someone approached him about that incident.
“I was at a fire scene many years later when someone came up to me and said ‘I know you, you saved my father.’ He went on to thank me for what I had done. I had no idea what he was talking about. His dad passed away a few days after we took him. I was a little confused, but he told me that our work gave his family time to arrive and say their goodbye. It made all of the challenges of doing EMS melt away as I was able to realize what we do makes a difference to the public and we never know how many lives we touch.”
Lenart’s late father-in-law, Edward Cotter, Jr., co-founded Storms Ambulance in 1948 with Richard Kieley. Lenart said the gruff Cotter, with his no-nonsense style, would be proud to see Storms celebrating its milestone anniversary.
“I’m smiling thinking about what he would say,” Lenart said. “Two of his favorite lines were, especially after a tough call, ‘don’t expect a raise, you’ll get your reward in heaven,’ and when he saw a new member, he would tell them, ‘if you came here for awards and trophies, you are in the wrong business.’”
On reaching 75 years in service, Lenart believes Cotter would be pleased.
For more information about the 5K, contact the race committee at: [email protected].
