A group of San Diego-area firefighters crossed the Rock 'n' Roll Marathon finish line in full firefighting gear Sunday.
The firefighters at Station 61 on Miramar banded together to run the race for one they consider their own, a 10-year-old son of a fellow firefighter.
Once they learned that firefighter Adam Martinez’s son, Isaac, had leukemia for the second time, they were heartbroken.
"Finishing this is about that big to what that kid is going through and for him to come in with high spirits cheering us on it just made it all worth it," said James Stark.
Adam said his firefighting unit wanted to do something for the boy to show the challenges his son was going through. His son received an honorary finisher's medal.
"I feel really good and excited and honored that they ran for me," Isaac said.
Isaac is undergoing chemotherapy that will have him in and out of the hospital in the coming months.
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"So, it was immediately, OK, what are we going to do,” Stark said. “What can we do to help Adam."
What they decided to do was the opposite of waiting around.
"Oh, it means a lot,” Adam said. “Family goes beyond your blood. It's more than blood. It's loyalty to me."
The running is their way of raising money and awareness.
"Even though my legs might be tired, Isaac's in a bed right now,” his father said. “He's got true heart. So, what he's doing stands for something. And so if he can do that, we can do this."
The GoFundMe page for Isaac raised money for the cause. Everything beyond the family’s costs, they say they will donate to pediatric cancer research.
