The Heroes Run was born out of both personal loss and a collective desire to honor the lives of friends and colleagues who left us too soon. The vision first took root after the tragic passing of Lifeguard Lt. Piotr Zatorsky on November 30, 2014. Piotr, an avid runner who often trained along the sand from Pompano Pier to Commercial Pier and back, inspired the idea of a memorial run in his honor.
Though the plan was delayed, the urgency to act only grew stronger as more heartbreak struck our community. In 2019, Lifeguard Richard Loop died by suicide, and in 2021, Lifeguard Jose Antonio Landrua passed away following an incident after a workout.
When I returned full-time to Pompano Beach Ocean Rescue in mid-2021, I—together with a dedicated team including Stephan Gruetter, Justin Holloway, and Mareena Reedy—felt a renewed responsibility to create something meaningful to honor their legacies. Out of that effort, we formed The South Florida First Responders Foundation Inc., a 501(c)(3), to produce The Heroes Run.
