The Fairfield Firefighters recently donated $17,000 to Operation Gift Cards, a local program that visits troops in military hospitals who were wounded in Afghanistan and Iraq. Since October 2005, the Operation Gift Cards’ 74 monthly/bimonthly visits have presented over $499,000 in post exchange (military department store) gift cards, special group product donations (Girl Scout cookies, laptops, corporate gift certificates etc.) and over $50,000 worth items on the “wish list” for both the wounded troops and their families.

Thanks to the incredible effort of the Fairfield Firefighters this years Stratton Faxon Fairfield Road Races were the best ever. This year alone firefighters raised approximately $440,000 for local charities, the Hole in the Wall Gang and several veterans and wounded soldier groups. The firefighters have raised more than $2,000,000 since it’s inception back in 1981. In 1981 there were 161 participants and over the years entries have increased to nearly 6,000 runners in 2011.

The half marathon has not only been a great source of revenue for the Non-profits, it has also been ranked by Runners World magazine among the top races in the United States having hosted the Women’s United States Half Marathon Championship as well as the U. S. Men’s Masters Championship. For more information about the Stratton Faxon Fairfielf Road Reces or Operation Gift Cards contact: Fairfield Half Marathon President, Steve Lobdell (203) 374-7759 hajamax@aol.com Operation Gift Cards Chairman, Al Meadows (203) 929-3357 al.meadows@snet.net

Photo-caption: Left to right: Lieutenant William Tuttle, Alan Menillo (who has visited the wounded troops), Rick Kazzi, Operation Gift Cards chairman Tim Kelly, Fairfield Firefighters Association Local 1426 President Robert Smith Jr.,and Chief Richard Felner