CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
Ultra marathon runner Michael Pereiro will be running for 24 hours straight to raise money for Echo Hose Ambulance’s paramedic program and to help Josh Henriquez, an EMT from Seymour who was badly injured after being struck by a vehicle.
SHELTON — Michael Pereiro, an EMT with Echo Hose Ambulance in Shelton, knows the true meaning of giving back.
The 26-year old is lacing up his running shoes in preparation for a 24-hour “ultra marathon” he plans to run solo on Friday (Dec. 3) and Saturday (Dec. 4).
Not only will Pereiro be running to raise money for Echo Hose — he’s raising money to help Josh Henriquez, an EMT from Seymour who was badly injured after being struck by a vehicle. Click here for a previous Valley Indy story.
Echo Hose will host the event, dubbed “Frozen 24,” with an opening ceremony at 7:30 p.m. Friday (Dec. 3) at its headquarters, located at 100 Meadown St. in Shelton. Organizers said there will be hot chocolate, food, a fire pit and music to kick off Pereiro’s 24-hour run.
Please click here to support the cause.
Pereiro ran a similar 24-hour marathon last year and raised $7,000 for Echo Hose, a nonprofit emergency ambulance provider that responds to more than 5,000 emergencies each year.
For his second 24-hour marathon, Pereiro has upped his personal fundraising goal to $20,000. He’ll donate half to Echo Hose and half to Henriquez.
Pereiro said he’s never met Henriquez. He only reached out to him for the first time this week — but it’s important to help a fellow EMT in need.
“I don’t know Josh and never met him, but I’ve heard he’s a really good guy,” Pereiro said. “He was surprised to hear from me, and I just want to help him get back on the road.”
Henriquez, 21, a volunteer firefighter and EMT with Seymour Ambulance Association, as well as in Ansonia and Naugatuck, sustained serious injuries after he was struck by a car Sept. 29. Henriquez continues to recover at home from multiple facial fractures, a fracture to his humerus and a fibula fracture to his left leg.
Like Pereiro, Henriquez is a runner. He was training for a marathon when the accident happened.
Pereiro recently competed in the Spartan Ultra Beast World Championships in Colorado, an ultra-challenging obstacle course race through rough terrain where participants carry sandbags and crawl through barbed wire along the way.
A friend got Pereiro interested in running these extreme races back in 2016 and Pereiro has been hooked ever since.
He’s been training hard in preparation for Friday’s event, getting in early morning runs and workout sessions on the treadmill and lifting weights in between his 80-hour work week. Pereiro has been with Echo Hose for about 18 months. Pereiro runs at least 40 miles a week to keep in tip-top shape.
On marathon day, Pereiro will run a non-stop, three-mile loop starting at 8 p.m. from Echo Hose, running along recreational trails near Shelton High School and Shelton Intermediate School and ending the trek back at Echo Hose on Saturday (Dec. 4) at 8 p.m.
He’ll pack plenty of water and glucose packs to keep hydrated, and will dress in layers to stay warm, as the weather is expected to dip into the low 30s each night.
“I like the challenge, honestly,” Pereiro said. “I don’t plan on taking any breaks while I’m running, especially because once I stop it will be mentally hard to keep going.”
Echo Hose will also host lunch at 12 p.m. Saturday (Dec. 4) where EMS members and the community are welcome to stop by and cheer on Pereiro. Seymour and Ansonia ambulance services will be on standby with ATV’s, according to Campion, cheering for Pereiro along the course.
Paramedic Angela Campion said she’s excited to watch Pereiro embark on his one-man marathon.
“When I heard Mike was taking on this adventure, I was astounded,” she said. “He is extremely athletic. He is always traveling to participate in races and ultra marathons. These events tax your body and mind to the highest level, but Mike handles them in stride, and somehow manages to smile while doing it all. He is such a positive influence in our EMS community, and I admire his strength and perseverance in whatever challenge he takes on.”
Echo Hose Assistant Chief Jospeh Laucella echoed similar sentiments about Pereiro.
“We are grateful for his commitment to the community and helping others,” Laucella said. “The fact that he commits so much of his time training, and the ability to stay focused and to run for 24 hours to help others, I find that inspiring.”
An ultra marathon is “anything over 30 miles long with extreme changes in elevation and terrain,” according to the event’s GoFundMe page.
