Thousands Take Part In 'Run To Remember' For Fallen Police Officers
CHICAGO (WBBM) - An estimated five thousand people came out to the lakefront this morning for the 7th Annual Run to Remember fallen Chicago police officers.
Pictures of officers killed in the line of duty marked the end of the route of the 5k run near the Gold Star Families Memorial.
They include the five officers killed in the line of duty last year plus one who died off duty in one of the department's deadliest years.
Among them was Thomas Wortham the fourth.
The 30-year-old Iraq war vet was killed outside his parents' south side home in May by men trying to steal his motorcycle.
His father - a retired Chicago sergeant - says he was able to talk to the New York police officers his son met while running the race last year.
Thomas Wortham the third says his son was showing him pictures of the memorial run in New York the night he was killed.
Organizers say proceeds from the run go to pay for the educational expenses of the children of Chicago cops killed or catastrophically injured in the line of duty.
Chicago Police Memorial Fund Executive Director Phil Cline says they're currently paying the tuition and other expenses of 27 children.
Melissa organized a team - calling itself sizzlin bacon - in part to raise awareness of what she and her fellow chicago police officers do every day.
Last year, 5 chicago cops were killed. money raised from the run helps put through school the children of officers killed or seriously injured in the line of duty.
