Get Moving Mat-Su holds community run with first responders to honor lives lost during 9/11

WASILLA — Get Moving Mat-Su hosted a community fun run with the help of local first responders to honor the lives lost during 9/11 Sunday, Sept. 10 at Denali Fitness.

This event was geared toward participants of all ages who ran, walked, biked, and pushed strollers around a nearby trail system at their own pace.

Representatives from the Alaska State Troopers, Palmer Police Department, Wasilla Police Department, Central Mat-Su Fire Department, and other local first responder agencies were onsite interacting with attendees.

A wide array of state vehicles from participating agencies were parked at the event for photo opportunities. Local families had the opportunity to see official vehicles like bright red fire trucks and helicopters up close.

7-year-old participant Finley Miller said that his favorite vehicle was the Alaska State Troopers' armored truck. His father Jake Miller said this event is a great opportunity for local families.

"I think it's a cool thing to get the family out, just a simple fun activity. It gets the blood flowing a little bit," Jake said.

Jake said it was great to see so many first responders from across the community participate in this event to help everyone reflect on the impact of 9/11.

"I think for a lot of people it brings to mind people just really coming together to support each other," Jake said.

Get Moving Mat-Su President Kaitlyn McGilvray thanked all the participating first responders for their help with the event and performing life saving work around the clock. She said that she was happy with how everything turned out this year, especially since they had even more participating agencies represented.

"I think it went really well," McGilvray said.

Get Moving Mat-Su is a local running club that encourages healthy lifestyles by hosting community runs throughout the year.

"Community is why we do this, just getting people together and reminding them why we're here," McGilvray said.

McGilvray said they plan to keep holding this 9/11 tribute run. She said it started when they approached Trooper Tim Wolff with the idea. Wolf quickly rounded up various local first responders and helped them get the inaugural event off the ground.

Wolff said he's thrilled that this event has been received so well by the public.

"We appreciate the support from the community and hope they see that we support them back," Wolff said. "We're always trying to make it bigger and better to get people moving."

Trooper Keith Klingen shared his experience with 9/11 during the event. He said that he was living just outside East New Jersey when it happened.

"It still feels like it was yesterday," Klingen said. "Everything just went on pause like it did everywhere in the country."

Klingen said that it was encouraging to have so many different local first responders offer their time for the event.

"I think it embodies the spirit of community that's so present here in the Valley

We're all very much a part of the same team," Klingen said.

Klingen said that events like the one held by Get Moving Mat-Su help the general public remember what happened on 9/11. He said it's important for those who were alive during the attack to pass on the information to the next generation.

"I think the biggest thing is to not forget," Klingen said.

Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman reporter Jacob Mann at jacob.mann@frontiersman.com