The Cambria County Regional Firefighters Association received a nearly $13,000 donation last Friday to help fund supplies for future training classes at its facility in East Carroll Township.

The 11th annual Chernisky Classic 5K walk or run and 10K run marathon, held the first Saturday after the Fourth of July each year, raised $12,919.52 for the association this year, Cambria County Commissioner Tom Chernisky said.

Every year, several firefighters show up on the Ghost Town Trail in Ebensburg to run the marathon in their turnout gear alongside hundreds of other participants, Chernisky said. The event is meant to bring attention to what firefighters and first responders do for the communities they serve, he said.

“It could be Christmas Day, Christmas Eve, Thanksgiving, two in the morning or two in the afternoon. When those tones go off, they drop everything and just go. They don’t ask questions,” Chernisky said of first responders.

“They protect property, they save lives and we need to give them training so they can protect themselves while they’re saving lives and protecting property,” he said.

According to Eric Miller, a past president of the Cambria County Regional Firefighters Association, the event was created after a previous board of commissioners cut the association’s funding.

During Chernisky’s first term in office, the association’s board of directors turned to him for help, Miller said, adding Chernisky agreed to help the association with its fundraising efforts.

“It’s a huge help,” Miller said of the donation. “It’s a much-needed fundraiser for the county association.”

The funding goes into a training fund and is distributed as needs arise, Miller said, noting the association could use it to purchase things like fuel for vehicles, new fire hoses or other specialized equipment.

Chernisky said the training facility is used by firefighters from Cambria County and neighboring counties, including Blair.

The Chernisky Ghost Town Trail-a-thon, another event supporting firefighters and first responders, is scheduled for Oct. 4, Chernisky said.

The event features four offered foot race distances, he said, noting the 26.2-mile marathon starts at the Ghost Town Trail in Ebensburg and ends at Duman Lake County Park.

A 15-miler starts at the Nanty Glo Trailhead and follows the same path as the marathon, he said, adding a 5K is available for participants to start at Duman Lake County Park, walk or run to the Ghost Town Trail’s C&I extension before returning back to the park.

A couch potato 0.0K was added this year for people who want to show support but not walk or run in the event, Chernisky said.

It’s as simple as it sounds, he said, noting participants will gather at the start line and immediately receive a free T-shirt and a finisher medal once the event begins.

“We have people having fun with that,” Chernisky said.

Proceeds from that event are split between the Cambria County Conservation and Recreation Authority and the Cambria County Regional Firefighters Association, he said, noting the event raised nearly $50,000 last year.

For a full schedule or to register, go to www.ultrasignup.com and search for Chernisky Ghost Town Trail-a-thon. Online registration closes at 11:59 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 20.

Mirror Staff Writer Matt Churella is at 814-946-7520.