Local Firefighter to Don Full Gear, Run Boston Marathon in Friend’s Memory

Running the nearly 30 miles of winding roads and city streets in the Boston Marathon is hard enough in shorts and a T-shirt, but James Gefke will do it in his firefighting gear.

His fallen friend and former North Shore firefighter of more than a decade is his inspiration.

Gefke, a North Shore firefighter, will run the marathon on April 18, in full firefighting gear excluding the boots. He will jog the miles in his helmet, fire pants, jacket and special shoes called Vibram Five Finger shoes to raise funds for the John Harrington Memorial Fund.

His friend since Gefke was 15, John Harrington grew up in Glendale and joined the North Shore Fire Department cadet program in 1997 during his senior year at Nicolet High School. He was part of the first cadet class and went on to study fire science at Milwaukee Area Techinical College following graduation. He was hired full time on the NSFD in January 1999 at age 19, the first cadet to ever be hired. Harrington remained in the department until his abrupt death May 27, 2004, after he was struck and killed by a truck while riding his bicycle on Kinnickinnic Avenue in Bay View. He was on his way to report to duty at North Shore Station 3 in Shorewood.  

“We weren’t together that day,” Gefke said.

Gefke said when he joined the department full time in January 2001 and worked with Harrington at the same station. They lived together in Bay View and would ride their bicycles into work during the time of his death.

“John was super active and touched so many lives and was always a positive influence on others around him; we miss him more than ever and any words can describe,” Gefke said. “We just do this to raise money in his name and keep his spirit alive.”

Every year around 100 friends, family and fellow cyclists gather in May for a bike ride in Harrington’s name. Gefke will be there in May, but first make an April stop in Boston.

This will be Gefke’s fourth marathon, but his first in full firefighting gear. He has been training since December and said running in Harrington's honor will see him through a difficult run.

"It has been a very positive experience for me," Gefke said. "If you put your mind to something, you will be surprised at what you can get done."

Gefke has set up a website for donations at www.bikeforjohn.com. Proceeds are donated to the Wisconsin Burn Survivors Network and Great Lakes Burn Camp.