ORLANDO, Fla. — Thousands of runners are in Central Florida gearing up for this year’s Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend.
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One athlete is going above and beyond to make this race even more challenging, all for a good cause.
Rob Verhelst, also known as Fireman Rob, will be tackling multiple races this weekend while wearing a full firefighter gear.
“I have my bunker pants, my bunker jacket, as well as my helmet,” Verhelst said. “It’s 35 pounds of extra weight. I’m not the lightest of individuals to begin with, it’s a lot of weight going down the road, but it’s all for a good purpose.”
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A purpose for the Boys and Girls Club of Central Florida that is being brought to light this weekend.
“Really to inspire and impact people,” Verhelst said. “Helping the Boys and Girls Club of Central Florida is great. It’s inspiring those kids to show there’s opportunity beyond what they maybe think.”
He’s putting his 25 years of serving as a Madison, Wisconsin firefighter to the test. He’s running the Dopey Challenge; a 5k, 10k, half and full marathon, which is a feat in itself. He said not only does he hope this challenge inspires local kids to reach beyond their goals but he hopes to also bring awareness to first responder mental health.
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“Racing in gear kind of gave me that opportunity to show people they aren’t alone in this battle. It’s a struggle, you don’t get a day off you can’t take vacation from it. You have to be resilient and that’s kind of what I do through the races is show that resilience.
He said as he treks through the 48.6 miles of the challenge, he wants this to serve as a reminder that pain is only temporary.
“It actually helps me at the end of the day to continue to move forward to the see next tomorrow,” Verhelst said.
You can learn more about Fireman Rob and his foundation here Fireman Rob Foundation | Fireman Rob
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