All Heroes Don't Wear Capes 5K and Fun RunLocation: Winston Family YMCA221 Riverside AveJacksonville, Fl 32202Packet Pick Up Dates & Times:Thursday, November 13, from 2:00–6:00 p.m.Friday, November 14, from 9:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m.Location: Winston YMCA, 221 Riverside Ave, Jacksonville, FL 32202Why Run This 5K?
On November 11, 2021 while in the line of duty, Engineer Michael Lee Freeland went home to be with the Lord. The Mike Freeland Foundation was founded by Mike’s mother, Mrs. Terona Feacher, after his passing. With the financial support from our community, through this race and other fundraising to come, The Mike Freeland Foundation will provide scholarships and mental health counseling.
Your support is gratefully appreciated! If you want to learn more please visit https://mikefreelandfoundation.org/. Inaugural 5K Fun Run & WalkCome join us for the Inaugural Race fundraiser to honor Mike's life and legacy. Location: Winston Family YMCA, 221 Riverside Ave. Jacksonville, Fl. 32202https://notallheroeswearcapes5k.itsyourrace.com/event.aspx?id=16570
- Honor the legacy of Jacksonville firefighter, Michael Lee Freeland, who gave his life in service.
- Support teen parents and under served youth in our community.
- Receive a T-shirt and a finisher’s medal.
- Enjoy a fun, family-friendly event that gives back to a powerful local cause.
On November 11, 2021 while in the line of duty, Engineer Michael Lee Freeland went home to be with the Lord. The Mike Freeland Foundation was founded by Mike’s mother, Mrs. Terona Feacher, after his passing. With the financial support from our community, through this race and other fundraising to come, The Mike Freeland Foundation will provide scholarships and mental health counseling.
Your support is gratefully appreciated! If you want to learn more please visit https://mikefreelandfoundation.org/. Inaugural 5K Fun Run & WalkCome join us for the Inaugural Race fundraiser to honor Mike's life and legacy. Location: Winston Family YMCA, 221 Riverside Ave. Jacksonville, Fl. 32202https://notallheroeswearcapes5k.itsyourrace.com/event.aspx?id=16570
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Welcome to community viewpoints. Is Shawnee feeling blessed and highly
favored on this Sunday morning. We are pouring into our
community remembering the heroes in our community. So today Torona
Feature I fondly call her Tea. Today she's here with
us to talk to us about a soldier, a man
that was in our community, a hero. Today we are
(00:21):
talking about Michael Frielan, a firefighter that passed in the
line of duty. Tea, if you would tell us a
little bit about yourself.
Speaker 2 (00:30):
Yes, ma'am. My name is Torona Beach Freeland, of course
was my maiden name. And I am a married woman
with two other children and a few bonus children. I'm
a dental hygienist, but I'm also a funeral director, and
I am the mother, the proud mother of Michael Freeland,
(00:53):
who was our community hero here in Jacksonville with the
Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department and community.
Speaker 3 (01:02):
I met Ta.
Speaker 1 (01:04):
We just said good morning one morning in the cafeteria,
and our friendship bloomed into an amazing friendship, bringing us
here to this situation, which is it's an unhappy situation,
but we're pouring into the community to understand all heroes
don't wear capes, but they do serve, and they serve well.
Speaker 3 (01:22):
T is here to talk to us about.
Speaker 1 (01:24):
The ongoing drive just to keep Michael Frielan's legacy alive.
So TA, if you would, I understand you've created the
all Heroes Don't Wear capes five K and fun run.
Talk to us about this event and why you thought
to pour into us. Because first responders, as we're discovering
(01:44):
all around the world we're experiencing crisis. Our first responder
is a person who gets there, who knows, assess, and
sees and then helps. So talk to us about why
you created this fun run, because I know Mike had
a plethora of sneakers and he always used to say
to me, miss Shannie, you need to put on some sneakers.
Speaker 2 (02:05):
Just a little bit about that.
Speaker 4 (02:07):
Shanne.
Speaker 2 (02:08):
Mike actually started working at foot Locker when he was
about old. I think he was maybe sixteen or eighteen
or something like that. I think it was sixteen, because
she was there for twenty years, even during the time
up until his demise on November eleventh, and he mainly
would stay with the company just to get the discount
(02:33):
for the sneakers. But what I realized also was that
he would reach out to people, especially single parents with
children or even just families with children to help them
with back to school. So as soon as school would
come in, he'd you know, called them up or knowing him,
he probably gave them his number and let them know, Hey,
(02:55):
we're having you know, family and friends' day. And I
know it's a lot of people that probably benefited from
that because they would get I think it was a
thirty percent discount that goes a long way when you
have multiple children and even yourself that you need to
buy sneakers for if you're a sneaker head like Mike was.
It was amazing to see the amount of sneakers that
(03:16):
were collected over the years that had worked at foot Locker. Thankfully,
you know, I was able to give a few pair away,
and unfortunately, you know, because of the estate, I had
to actually sell most of them, but in some ways
I was able to donate a few and just to
help people realize that, you know, it's so much better
(03:39):
to give than to receive. I'm just thankful for all
of the memory that people share with me during the
times when he did help them with sneakers or whatever
it was that he did for them. It was just
such a It was a pleasure to know that his
legacy of giving continued. When you love someone, you'll always
(04:00):
take the opportunity to honor them. My foundation is something
that I attest to with honoring Mike, because you want
to treat others with respect and dignity, and that was
the person who Mike was. If I made there's a
scripture in Philippians two and three that says, let nothing
be done through selfish ambitions or conceit, but in lowliness
(04:22):
of mind, let each one esteem others better than themselves.
And that was Mike. You know, his whole demeanor. He
was all about giving and putting others before him and
making sure everybody was okay. And Shawnee, you know, Michael,
come in with that hug and then she'll plant that
big wet kiss on your cheek and just keep it moving.
(04:43):
I'm just thankful that he was able to show love
and continue that because that was the person that he was.
And I'm so thankful for that community.
Speaker 1 (04:54):
Shaannie speaking to Corona Feature. She's here with us this
morning remembering her son, a servant in the community, as
a firefighter and a servant to help because I know
that going to school or just looking sharp, people first
look at your feet, and when you have some good
kicks on, they definitely noticed the kicks. But it was
(05:15):
what was in Mike's heart. He was a giver. He
was a servant, and he served with the firefighters and
as you know around the world first responders, we have
to understand that they get to see things first hand
and they get to serve firsthand. And if you would
(05:36):
just tell us about Mike and the inaugural five K
race to benefit the Mike Freeland Foundation.
Speaker 2 (05:43):
Mike and I actually did a five k together, and
it was the year that he passed, and it was
on July fourth, and that was our first five k
that we did together, and we had so much fun.
You know, along the route, he was talking to people,
and it of course everywhere he went, somebody knew him
or he knew someone. And at the time, of course,
(06:04):
firefighters would be along the route to the bike unit,
and Mike was a part of the bike unit on
the fire department, so there were people there who he
talked to. We stopped and talked to a couple of
police officers showed that right there just empowered me to say, hey,
oh you know this is fun son, Let's do this again.
I was able to have a picture made with us
(06:26):
on a shirt that pretty much embodies, you know, just
togetherness and being together and us having a good time.
So after Mike had passed, there was a Hero's walk
that was in the Orange Park and a lot of
family and firefighters, his friends, they came to the walk
and we had on shirts that had his name on
(06:49):
the back or had Freeland and the number seventy three,
which was the station where he worked. That run really
sparked me to say, hey, maybe this is something that
I could do for the foundation and it'll help bring
the community together and especially everyone because of course walking
(07:09):
that's a form of exercise. You know, you're outside and
the elements and you know we have beautiful weather. Here
show the riverside wins Riverside where the walk will actually occur.
That is where after Mike had passed, a lot of people, family,
firefighters and friends gathered after I think it was maybe
(07:31):
the week after he had passed, and they did a walk.
They did a mile walk at the same riverside WYMCA.
A lot of fire trucks were out there. My family,
the news was there to me that really big volume
to having the run, you know, this inaugural run and
walk of course at that same spot. So the race
(07:55):
will take place at Winston Family WYMTA, which is at
two twenty one Riverside Avenue. There's gonna be a five
k which is three miles, and then a fun run
which is about a mile or so. But you can walk,
you can skip, hop, jump or run. We just want
people to come out and all of the proceeds for
(08:17):
this run will go towards scholarship for young people who
were like me, you know, a teen parent. I'll go
to a Philip Randolph and go to the teen Parent
program to award a scholarship to a deserving student there.
Mike went to ed White, so I'm going to ed White.
I went to Rain. We gave a scholarship to a
(08:38):
young man back in May at Rains who wanted to
become a firefighter. The race will just help to bring
the community together to celebrate and honor the legacy of Mike,
but to also empower young people to you know, know
that hey, you can move forward, even though it may
look bleak right now. But you have people in your
(09:00):
community that want to support you and everything that you do,
so they can choose to go to whatever vocational program
they would like to, but of course, you know, I
want to introduce them to the career of firefighting because
one thing about it, it is definitely a calling, because
it's not for everybody. You know. I've heard the stories
(09:22):
and just so much that goes on during those calls
that they make and even at the firehouse. My brother
was a retired firefighter with JFRD, so I heard a lot,
you know of stories through him, and every time I
see a firefighter, you know, I always tell them, thank
you for your servants, because I've heard the stories. I've
(09:44):
you know, seen some things and just was able to be,
you know, a witness to a lot of what happened
or what happens during those calls that they make, because,
like I tell them, you know, it's not just about
getting your blood pressure checked, you know, at the fire station,
and it's not just about them even fighting fires. A
lot of them are saving lives, they're delivering babies. You know,
(10:06):
They're doing so much in our community, and I want
a lot of recognition to come to them and for
us to love them and always keep them in our prayers.
Speaker 3 (10:17):
Amen.
Speaker 1 (10:17):
I remember that first event. I remember coming out and
supporting because Mike was a pivotal person in all the community.
He was a young man striving for greatness. Community. Shawnee
speaking to Corona Feature. She is here to talk to
us about her son, Michael Lee Friedlan, a firefighter who
(10:38):
has passed, but his memory remains in our hearts. And
we have an event coming up just so that we
can pour into the Michael Freeland Foundation doing big things
but serving young mothers, serving our community, and building our community. Auntie,
I know that this has been a hard back, but
(11:00):
we are still here and I appreciate you for reaching
out and showing that we keep Michael's memory alive.
Speaker 3 (11:07):
I remember when this just happened.
Speaker 1 (11:10):
What we need to remember is the service behind the man,
and that there are still people here that are doing
the service.
Speaker 3 (11:17):
Tee.
Speaker 1 (11:17):
With this five k men, women and child can register correct.
Speaker 2 (11:20):
They can actually register up until the day of the rate.
We will have packet pickup for the runners who have
already registered, and we pretty much keep in communication with
them via email, but packet pickup will be at the
YMCA on Thursday and Friday, and all of that information
(11:41):
is on the website, but you can come the day
of the rate and register and sign up for the rate.
The five K which is three miles, is thirty dollars
and the fun run, which is about a mile or
left or more is fifteen dollars. So all ages are welcome.
You know, we don't discriminate against anyone when it comes
(12:04):
to age, and that of course, no pets are allowed. However,
you know, you come out, bring your family, your friends, everyone.
We're gonna have a great time, gonna have good music.
Firehouse Subs is gonna be there, and a whole host
of other vendors will be there just to help us
celebrate and bring, you know, just awareness to the community
(12:29):
about our first responders and just keeping a legacy of
service alive.
Speaker 1 (12:34):
Regarding Mike, honoring the legacy of Jacksonville Firefighter Michael leef
Frieland who gave his life in service community today talking
to his mother who was a young mom and she
was steady with raising a great man who we lost
in the line of duty. Please go to our website
here at iHeart T. Could you give us that website.
Speaker 2 (12:55):
Michael Freelandfoundation dot.
Speaker 1 (12:57):
Org community you can get involved, state active and get
your steps in the races November the fifteenth.
Speaker 3 (13:05):
Correct it all right, Tee.
Speaker 1 (13:06):
Anything you want to say to those single moms out
there that are listening.
Speaker 2 (13:10):
I would one thing that I learned. I was a
single mom with Mike until he was about fifteen years old. Thankfully,
I did have support from my family, but I know
that sometimes that's not for everyone. You know, everybody may
not have the support that I had. However, a scripture
that I have lived by with Mike as he was
(13:31):
coming up, as well as the children that I have now,
and it's Proverbs twenty two and six, and it's train
up a child and the way that they should go,
and when they are old, they will not depart from it.
I started Mike at a young age of service. We
would go and feed the needy during holiday season because
(13:51):
I showed him that you home and a warm home,
opening up gifts, putting Jordan's on your feet. There are
so many people that don't have that opportunity. So whatever
you receive, it's better for you to even give of
your time and your effort to show that you appreciate
what you have received. I think that that opened MIC's
(14:12):
eyes in his heart to just start a lifetime of
servant and I do believe that that was what the
gift that God gave him to serve and then it
just manifested in all of the different jobs that he
had throughout the community. So I'm very thankful for that.
So for those single moms, just you know, hold on
(14:34):
and know that I feel you. I was there, I know,
I understand. But when you really trust God to help
you with your child and know that you have a village,
you can find that village in a lot of people.
Just know that you are not here alone and that
as far as I'm confirmed, I'm going to do my
best to continue the legacy of Mike with serving and
(14:58):
giving back to the community through this scholarship fund that
we have through the foundation.
Speaker 1 (15:04):
Community supporting is what we do. Empowering is what we
do as well. Empower Torona feature here today, the mother
of Michael Lee Friedland who passed in the line of duty.
I know that we also have a firefighter with us
this morning on the phone, and I just wanted to
get that angle as a mom losing a child. You
(15:26):
heard Tea and the emotion, but she's still here striving
to ensure that the community stays involved and she's involved
with the firefighters. So today we also have another firefighter
ready to talk to us about, you know, the work.
Douglas Richmond is here with us to talk and help
us understand the work that is done in the community.
(15:47):
Good morning, Douglas, how are you.
Speaker 3 (15:52):
You know steady?
Speaker 1 (15:53):
This is a very emotional interview for me as I
knew Mike, I know Ta and just understanding the night
of it happened on Veterans Day. As a firefighter and
as anyone who works in healthcare, you don't have any
days off, you work holidays, you work every day. It
just happened to be Veterans Day when Michael passed. Talk
(16:16):
to us about your service. How long have you been
a firefighter.
Speaker 4 (16:19):
I've been with zachs Will Fire Rescue Department almost eleven years,
to be eleven years in January. I say, the best
job in the world of me. I love every aspect
of it. I love being able to give back to
my community. I love being there when somebody needs me
the most and showing up for them. I enjoyed that
aspect of giving back. I enjoy anytime that we do
(16:39):
any community event, giving back to the community, going to school,
talking to student fortigue, showing them that this is another
option for them, that we're here to help them, We're
here as a support system for them at any time.
I do believe that it is a calling. I do
believe that you have to have the right mind and
the right part to be able to do this job
(17:01):
consistently and do it well. I enjoy it. I know
that a lot of the people that I work with
enjoy it. I know Mike really enjoyed it because Mike
was a giver, as you said a million times, he
had a service art and we all strive to be
like Mike.
Speaker 1 (17:16):
Community talking to a firefighter first responder, Doug. With everything
happening in the world today, first responders are the one
who are there. What is the mindset when you get
on the job and you get that call and the
alarm goes off, Because you know, the kids love the trucks,
but they don't understand the drive behind that, the work
(17:39):
behind that.
Speaker 4 (17:40):
Right, Yeah, it's definitely something different. When Joe's tones drop
of the alarm goes off, it's slow time. And so
for me in my mind when somebody's calling on when
one they're having the worst there or the worst moment
of their life and they need somebody there to either
help them get better, get out of a situation, or
simply make them feel safe and comfort. For me, when
(18:00):
those tones dropping, that alarm goes out, that is my
first mindset to do is how can I make this
person's day better? How can I make this moment better?
What can I do to fix the situation? So I
rely on my training, I rely on everything that I
learned to take that and fix the situation for them,
or make their day better, or help them through a
tough moment, or comfort them if I can, and be
(18:23):
a servant in any way that I'm allowed to be as.
Speaker 3 (18:26):
A first responder, what do you do for your mental health?
Because it is a stressful.
Speaker 1 (18:32):
Job being that first responder, being the one on site.
Speaker 4 (18:35):
It's definitely stressful, and we have to find healthy ways
to relieve that stress and cope with it. My mom
is a nurse's been a nurse my whole life forty
plus years, and so there's somebody there that I can
talk to about, you know, calls that make me uncomfortable
and calls that I, you know, take home with me.
I do a lot of talking to her and we're
able to talk things out. I talk to my other coworkers.
(18:57):
We have a critical incident stress debriefing through the Fire department.
They also offer as therapists and things like that. I
enjoy working out as a way to release stress. Working out, running,
playing golf, and fishing. So I have plenty of outlets
that I feel are healthy and to help me, you know,
(19:19):
relieve that stress and decompress from mentally taxing God mentally
and emotionally because we're seeing calls and we're seeing things
that a researching doesn't see on a normal basis.
Speaker 1 (19:29):
Community Shawnee pouring into the community, empowering our first responders,
empowering our firefighters this morning, empowering moms who have lost
a child. Speaking to Douglas Richmond and Toronto feature here
this morning talking about the inaugural five k fun Run
and walk, and as Doug said, you know, one of
(19:50):
the things to do to de stress is to work out.
So this fun run, you can definitely come out, get
your steps in, but understand it's for a g great cause.
It's pouring into a foundation to help single moms, but
also fight that mental stress when you lose someone.
Speaker 3 (20:06):
You have to keep going.
Speaker 1 (20:08):
Doug, I know that when you sent me the email,
it triggered me to understand that we are in the
community for each other. We are here to support each other.
So when I saw this, it triggered an emotion for me.
But I thank you for pouring into the community like
you've been doing with the memory of Michael Lee Friedlan.
(20:30):
Is there anything you'd like to say to the community,
the fellow firefighters that are in the paint or standing
in the wind with you, you know, just this day,
how we should come together. The brotherhood is strong to
what I see, anything you'd like to share with the community.
Speaker 4 (20:45):
I just want to give a huge thank to everybody
involved for continuing to the uplift Mic in this way
and everything that everybody has done to continue his life
as a firepartner. I know that a lot of us
we still truly missed Mike to this day, and we
still put forward the effort to make sure we keeping
(21:06):
name a lot and do as he would do. We
always walk around make sure everybody hey, cack ahead a
smile day, because every time we saw Mike, that's all
it was, it was a big smile. I never saw
Mike have a bad day, even if things were going
awry and it was, you know, things were kind of
hitting the fan, Mike was still smiling. Michae was still
there and being supportive to everybody involved. So I just
(21:27):
want to tell all my fellow firefighters and anybody in
the community when you see it's a smile at us,
and give us a smile and know that we're here
for you. Guys in the community, and from my brothers
that are fighting the same fight that I'm fighting, have
each other's back. Let's show up and continue to support.
I know we have a huge turnout and I think
it's going to be awesome community.
Speaker 1 (21:46):
On November the eleventh, twenty twenty one, while in the
line of duty, Engineer Michael Lee Friedland went home to
be with the Lord.
Speaker 3 (21:56):
And this is why.
Speaker 1 (21:56):
We're talking to his mom and we're talking to his
friend about being a first responder, but also about keeping
his legacy alive. So please join in the inaugural All
Heroes don't wear capes five K Fun Run, and we
want everybody to understand that this is a mission that
(22:17):
will keep going. This is the inaugural, So get ready
for the second annual and get ready for just responding
community because as we know, the world's in crisis right now.
So I want to command all the first responders out
there because you know, blood pressures are going up, and
it's not just about blood pressure, it's about you know
(22:38):
that call, but mostly moving forward, I think you're going
to get a lot of calls about blood pressure due
to just the crisis that is going on. So I
thank you for being in our community, and I thank
all first responders for the job that they do.
Speaker 3 (22:52):
It is not easy. As you can see.
Speaker 1 (22:55):
Michael Lee Friedlan I was in the line of duty
when he passed, and his heart was so big. I
want everyone to understand have that heart as well. T
and I know this Toll. I pray for you, So
pray for me because Michael's like a son to me too.
Speaker 2 (23:10):
Yeah. Will Yeah.
Speaker 1 (23:11):
We are here to address this fun run and to
address being there for our community.
Speaker 3 (23:19):
So together we will rise.
Speaker 1 (23:20):
Together, we will ensure that Michael Lee Friedland legacy is
alive in our community. So community, please check out the
website TEA if you would tell.
Speaker 2 (23:30):
Us for the Mike Freelandfoundation dot org. If you go
to Mike Creland Foundation dot org. It will connect you.
You can register there, you can click on it and
it'll have an area for you to be able to
sign up for the race.
Speaker 3 (23:47):
And Doug, is there anything else that you'd like to share?
Speaker 4 (23:49):
Thank you for having me.
Speaker 3 (23:51):
It was a pleasure.
Speaker 1 (23:51):
Community Toronta feature and Douglas Richmond here with us today
in regards to the All Heroes Don't Wear Capes five
k and fun run, empowering the community with the legacy
of Michael Lee Friedland. Be sure to check out our
community calendar page. We will have the information as well.
And let's pour into the community. Let's get to work,
let's exercise and remember a great man and get our
(24:15):
steps in and you never know who you might meet
along the way in this walk to anything else.
Speaker 2 (24:20):
Well, actually, I just want to tell you, thank you,
Seanie for giving me this opportunity to be able to
speak to the community about the legacy of Mike. And
thank you for all you do empowering the community and
educating us on the event and just things that are
going on around our community and keeping us together and informed.
Speaker 3 (24:43):
It's what we do.
Speaker 1 (24:44):
So pray for me like I pray for you here
to help the community and serve.
Speaker 3 (24:48):
Like Mike did, thank you.
Speaker 2 (24:49):
I appreciate this, I really do it.
Speaker 3 (24:51):
Thank you community.
Speaker 1 (24:52):
Check out our community calendar page for all our events
helping and serving. On October twenty third, Osborne Orthodonics their
annual Thanksgiving food drive. They are collecting non perishable food
items and accepting monetary donations to help local families enjoy
a warm Thanksgiving. If you know a family in need,
check out our website for more information. We also have
(25:13):
an opportunity for you to help those impacted by Hurricane Melissa.
There is a relief mission in Jamaica via the Sandals Foundation.
And on Veterans Day, we teamed up with K nine
for Warriors First Coast News for the tenth annual Veterans
Day telethon November the eleventh, six am till eight pm,
benefiting the Canine for Warriors, the nation's largest provider of
(25:35):
trained service dogs to the military veterans living with PTSD,
traumatic brain injury and military sexual trauma. And we're also
pouring into the community locally with the Clara White Mission,
Feed the City and Holiday food Drive pre Thanksgiving Luncheon
for the homeless and low income families free for all,
including haircuts, clothing, and entertainment. You can also help the
(25:58):
Claia White Mission with their Holiday Foods Drive wish list.
Check out our community calendar page for all the details
on how you can empower the community through this holiday
season and the local love does not stop. The Steve
Harvey Morning Show Turkey Give will happen Tuesday, November twenty fifth,
in the season of Giving, Turkeys will be given away
to those in need. The first one hundred people will
(26:20):
receive a gift card good to purchase one turkey.
Speaker 3 (26:23):
Community be sure to check out.
Speaker 1 (26:24):
Our community calendar page where you will find all the
information of services helping through this crisis and helping those
in need locally. Thank you for listening to community viewpoints.
Have a blessed day and be a blessing
Welcome to community viewpoints. Is Shawnee feeling blessed and highly
favored on this Sunday morning. We are pouring into our
community remembering the heroes in our community. So today Torona
Feature I fondly call her Tea. Today she's here with
us to talk to us about a soldier, a man
that was in our community, a hero. Today we are
(00:21):
talking about Michael Frielan, a firefighter that passed in the
line of duty. Tea, if you would tell us a
little bit about yourself.
Speaker 2 (00:30):
Yes, ma'am. My name is Torona Beach Freeland, of course
was my maiden name. And I am a married woman
with two other children and a few bonus children. I'm
a dental hygienist, but I'm also a funeral director, and
I am the mother, the proud mother of Michael Freeland,
(00:53):
who was our community hero here in Jacksonville with the
Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department and community.
Speaker 3 (01:02):
I met Ta.
Speaker 1 (01:04):
We just said good morning one morning in the cafeteria,
and our friendship bloomed into an amazing friendship, bringing us
here to this situation, which is it's an unhappy situation,
but we're pouring into the community to understand all heroes
don't wear capes, but they do serve, and they serve well.
Speaker 3 (01:22):
T is here to talk to us about.
Speaker 1 (01:24):
The ongoing drive just to keep Michael Frielan's legacy alive.
So TA, if you would, I understand you've created the
all Heroes Don't Wear capes five K and fun run.
Talk to us about this event and why you thought
to pour into us. Because first responders, as we're discovering
(01:44):
all around the world we're experiencing crisis. Our first responder
is a person who gets there, who knows, assess, and
sees and then helps. So talk to us about why
you created this fun run, because I know Mike had
a plethora of sneakers and he always used to say
to me, miss Shannie, you need to put on some sneakers.
Speaker 2 (02:05):
Just a little bit about that.
Speaker 4 (02:07):
Shanne.
Speaker 2 (02:08):
Mike actually started working at foot Locker when he was
about old. I think he was maybe sixteen or eighteen
or something like that. I think it was sixteen, because
she was there for twenty years, even during the time
up until his demise on November eleventh, and he mainly
would stay with the company just to get the discount
(02:33):
for the sneakers. But what I realized also was that
he would reach out to people, especially single parents with
children or even just families with children to help them
with back to school. So as soon as school would
come in, he'd you know, called them up or knowing him,
he probably gave them his number and let them know, Hey,
(02:55):
we're having you know, family and friends' day. And I
know it's a lot of people that probably benefited from
that because they would get I think it was a
thirty percent discount that goes a long way when you
have multiple children and even yourself that you need to
buy sneakers for if you're a sneaker head like Mike was.
It was amazing to see the amount of sneakers that
(03:16):
were collected over the years that had worked at foot Locker. Thankfully,
you know, I was able to give a few pair away,
and unfortunately, you know, because of the estate, I had
to actually sell most of them, but in some ways
I was able to donate a few and just to
help people realize that, you know, it's so much better
(03:39):
to give than to receive. I'm just thankful for all
of the memory that people share with me during the
times when he did help them with sneakers or whatever
it was that he did for them. It was just
such a It was a pleasure to know that his
legacy of giving continued. When you love someone, you'll always
(04:00):
take the opportunity to honor them. My foundation is something
that I attest to with honoring Mike, because you want
to treat others with respect and dignity, and that was
the person who Mike was. If I made there's a
scripture in Philippians two and three that says, let nothing
be done through selfish ambitions or conceit, but in lowliness
(04:22):
of mind, let each one esteem others better than themselves.
And that was Mike. You know, his whole demeanor. He
was all about giving and putting others before him and
making sure everybody was okay. And Shawnee, you know, Michael,
come in with that hug and then she'll plant that
big wet kiss on your cheek and just keep it moving.
(04:43):
I'm just thankful that he was able to show love
and continue that because that was the person that he was.
And I'm so thankful for that community.
Speaker 1 (04:54):
Shaannie speaking to Corona Feature. She's here with us this
morning remembering her son, a servant in the community, as
a firefighter and a servant to help because I know
that going to school or just looking sharp, people first
look at your feet, and when you have some good
kicks on, they definitely noticed the kicks. But it was
(05:15):
what was in Mike's heart. He was a giver. He
was a servant, and he served with the firefighters and
as you know around the world first responders, we have
to understand that they get to see things first hand
and they get to serve firsthand. And if you would
(05:36):
just tell us about Mike and the inaugural five K
race to benefit the Mike Freeland Foundation.
Speaker 2 (05:43):
Mike and I actually did a five k together, and
it was the year that he passed, and it was
on July fourth, and that was our first five k
that we did together, and we had so much fun.
You know, along the route, he was talking to people,
and it of course everywhere he went, somebody knew him
or he knew someone. And at the time, of course,
(06:04):
firefighters would be along the route to the bike unit,
and Mike was a part of the bike unit on
the fire department, so there were people there who he
talked to. We stopped and talked to a couple of
police officers showed that right there just empowered me to say, hey,
oh you know this is fun son, Let's do this again.
I was able to have a picture made with us
(06:26):
on a shirt that pretty much embodies, you know, just
togetherness and being together and us having a good time.
So after Mike had passed, there was a Hero's walk
that was in the Orange Park and a lot of
family and firefighters, his friends, they came to the walk
and we had on shirts that had his name on
(06:49):
the back or had Freeland and the number seventy three,
which was the station where he worked. That run really
sparked me to say, hey, maybe this is something that
I could do for the foundation and it'll help bring
the community together and especially everyone because of course walking
(07:09):
that's a form of exercise. You know, you're outside and
the elements and you know we have beautiful weather. Here
show the riverside wins Riverside where the walk will actually occur.
That is where after Mike had passed, a lot of people, family,
firefighters and friends gathered after I think it was maybe
(07:31):
the week after he had passed, and they did a walk.
They did a mile walk at the same riverside WYMCA.
A lot of fire trucks were out there. My family,
the news was there to me that really big volume
to having the run, you know, this inaugural run and
walk of course at that same spot. So the race
(07:55):
will take place at Winston Family WYMTA, which is at
two twenty one Riverside Avenue. There's gonna be a five
k which is three miles, and then a fun run
which is about a mile or so. But you can walk,
you can skip, hop, jump or run. We just want
people to come out and all of the proceeds for
(08:17):
this run will go towards scholarship for young people who
were like me, you know, a teen parent. I'll go
to a Philip Randolph and go to the teen Parent
program to award a scholarship to a deserving student there.
Mike went to ed White, so I'm going to ed White.
I went to Rain. We gave a scholarship to a
(08:38):
young man back in May at Rains who wanted to
become a firefighter. The race will just help to bring
the community together to celebrate and honor the legacy of Mike,
but to also empower young people to you know, know
that hey, you can move forward, even though it may
look bleak right now. But you have people in your
(09:00):
community that want to support you and everything that you do,
so they can choose to go to whatever vocational program
they would like to, but of course, you know, I
want to introduce them to the career of firefighting because
one thing about it, it is definitely a calling, because
it's not for everybody. You know. I've heard the stories
(09:22):
and just so much that goes on during those calls
that they make and even at the firehouse. My brother
was a retired firefighter with JFRD, so I heard a lot,
you know of stories through him, and every time I
see a firefighter, you know, I always tell them, thank
you for your servants, because I've heard the stories. I've
(09:44):
you know, seen some things and just was able to be,
you know, a witness to a lot of what happened
or what happens during those calls that they make, because,
like I tell them, you know, it's not just about
getting your blood pressure checked, you know, at the fire station,
and it's not just about them even fighting fires. A
lot of them are saving lives, they're delivering babies. You know,
(10:06):
They're doing so much in our community, and I want
a lot of recognition to come to them and for
us to love them and always keep them in our prayers.
Speaker 3 (10:17):
Amen.
Speaker 1 (10:17):
I remember that first event. I remember coming out and
supporting because Mike was a pivotal person in all the community.
He was a young man striving for greatness. Community. Shawnee
speaking to Corona Feature. She is here to talk to
us about her son, Michael Lee Friedlan, a firefighter who
(10:38):
has passed, but his memory remains in our hearts. And
we have an event coming up just so that we
can pour into the Michael Freeland Foundation doing big things
but serving young mothers, serving our community, and building our community. Auntie,
I know that this has been a hard back, but
(11:00):
we are still here and I appreciate you for reaching
out and showing that we keep Michael's memory alive.
Speaker 3 (11:07):
I remember when this just happened.
Speaker 1 (11:10):
What we need to remember is the service behind the man,
and that there are still people here that are doing
the service.
Speaker 3 (11:17):
Tee.
Speaker 1 (11:17):
With this five k men, women and child can register correct.
Speaker 2 (11:20):
They can actually register up until the day of the rate.
We will have packet pickup for the runners who have
already registered, and we pretty much keep in communication with
them via email, but packet pickup will be at the
YMCA on Thursday and Friday, and all of that information
(11:41):
is on the website, but you can come the day
of the rate and register and sign up for the rate.
The five K which is three miles, is thirty dollars
and the fun run, which is about a mile or
left or more is fifteen dollars. So all ages are welcome.
You know, we don't discriminate against anyone when it comes
(12:04):
to age, and that of course, no pets are allowed. However,
you know, you come out, bring your family, your friends, everyone.
We're gonna have a great time, gonna have good music.
Firehouse Subs is gonna be there, and a whole host
of other vendors will be there just to help us
celebrate and bring, you know, just awareness to the community
(12:29):
about our first responders and just keeping a legacy of
service alive.
Speaker 1 (12:34):
Regarding Mike, honoring the legacy of Jacksonville Firefighter Michael leef
Frieland who gave his life in service community today talking
to his mother who was a young mom and she
was steady with raising a great man who we lost
in the line of duty. Please go to our website
here at iHeart T. Could you give us that website.
Speaker 2 (12:55):
Michael Freelandfoundation dot.
Speaker 1 (12:57):
Org community you can get involved, state active and get
your steps in the races November the fifteenth.
Speaker 3 (13:05):
Correct it all right, Tee.
Speaker 1 (13:06):
Anything you want to say to those single moms out
there that are listening.
Speaker 2 (13:10):
I would one thing that I learned. I was a
single mom with Mike until he was about fifteen years old. Thankfully,
I did have support from my family, but I know
that sometimes that's not for everyone. You know, everybody may
not have the support that I had. However, a scripture
that I have lived by with Mike as he was
(13:31):
coming up, as well as the children that I have now,
and it's Proverbs twenty two and six, and it's train
up a child and the way that they should go,
and when they are old, they will not depart from it.
I started Mike at a young age of service. We
would go and feed the needy during holiday season because
(13:51):
I showed him that you home and a warm home,
opening up gifts, putting Jordan's on your feet. There are
so many people that don't have that opportunity. So whatever
you receive, it's better for you to even give of
your time and your effort to show that you appreciate
what you have received. I think that that opened MIC's
(14:12):
eyes in his heart to just start a lifetime of
servant and I do believe that that was what the
gift that God gave him to serve and then it
just manifested in all of the different jobs that he
had throughout the community. So I'm very thankful for that.
So for those single moms, just you know, hold on
(14:34):
and know that I feel you. I was there, I know,
I understand. But when you really trust God to help
you with your child and know that you have a village,
you can find that village in a lot of people.
Just know that you are not here alone and that
as far as I'm confirmed, I'm going to do my
best to continue the legacy of Mike with serving and
(14:58):
giving back to the community through this scholarship fund that
we have through the foundation.
Speaker 1 (15:04):
Community supporting is what we do. Empowering is what we
do as well. Empower Torona feature here today, the mother
of Michael Lee Friedland who passed in the line of duty.
I know that we also have a firefighter with us
this morning on the phone, and I just wanted to
get that angle as a mom losing a child. You
(15:26):
heard Tea and the emotion, but she's still here striving
to ensure that the community stays involved and she's involved
with the firefighters. So today we also have another firefighter
ready to talk to us about, you know, the work.
Douglas Richmond is here with us to talk and help
us understand the work that is done in the community.
(15:47):
Good morning, Douglas, how are you.
Speaker 3 (15:52):
You know steady?
Speaker 1 (15:53):
This is a very emotional interview for me as I
knew Mike, I know Ta and just understanding the night
of it happened on Veterans Day. As a firefighter and
as anyone who works in healthcare, you don't have any
days off, you work holidays, you work every day. It
just happened to be Veterans Day when Michael passed. Talk
(16:16):
to us about your service. How long have you been
a firefighter.
Speaker 4 (16:19):
I've been with zachs Will Fire Rescue Department almost eleven years,
to be eleven years in January. I say, the best
job in the world of me. I love every aspect
of it. I love being able to give back to
my community. I love being there when somebody needs me
the most and showing up for them. I enjoyed that
aspect of giving back. I enjoy anytime that we do
(16:39):
any community event, giving back to the community, going to school,
talking to student fortigue, showing them that this is another
option for them, that we're here to help them, We're
here as a support system for them at any time.
I do believe that it is a calling. I do
believe that you have to have the right mind and
the right part to be able to do this job
(17:01):
consistently and do it well. I enjoy it. I know
that a lot of the people that I work with
enjoy it. I know Mike really enjoyed it because Mike
was a giver, as you said a million times, he
had a service art and we all strive to be
like Mike.
Speaker 1 (17:16):
Community talking to a firefighter first responder, Doug. With everything
happening in the world today, first responders are the one
who are there. What is the mindset when you get
on the job and you get that call and the
alarm goes off, Because you know, the kids love the trucks,
but they don't understand the drive behind that, the work
(17:39):
behind that.
Speaker 4 (17:40):
Right, Yeah, it's definitely something different. When Joe's tones drop
of the alarm goes off, it's slow time. And so
for me in my mind when somebody's calling on when
one they're having the worst there or the worst moment
of their life and they need somebody there to either
help them get better, get out of a situation, or
simply make them feel safe and comfort. For me, when
(18:00):
those tones dropping, that alarm goes out, that is my
first mindset to do is how can I make this
person's day better? How can I make this moment better?
What can I do to fix the situation? So I
rely on my training, I rely on everything that I
learned to take that and fix the situation for them,
or make their day better, or help them through a
tough moment, or comfort them if I can, and be
(18:23):
a servant in any way that I'm allowed to be as.
Speaker 3 (18:26):
A first responder, what do you do for your mental health?
Because it is a stressful.
Speaker 1 (18:32):
Job being that first responder, being the one on site.
Speaker 4 (18:35):
It's definitely stressful, and we have to find healthy ways
to relieve that stress and cope with it. My mom
is a nurse's been a nurse my whole life forty
plus years, and so there's somebody there that I can
talk to about, you know, calls that make me uncomfortable
and calls that I, you know, take home with me.
I do a lot of talking to her and we're
able to talk things out. I talk to my other coworkers.
(18:57):
We have a critical incident stress debriefing through the Fire department.
They also offer as therapists and things like that. I
enjoy working out as a way to release stress. Working out, running,
playing golf, and fishing. So I have plenty of outlets
that I feel are healthy and to help me, you know,
(19:19):
relieve that stress and decompress from mentally taxing God mentally
and emotionally because we're seeing calls and we're seeing things
that a researching doesn't see on a normal basis.
Speaker 1 (19:29):
Community Shawnee pouring into the community, empowering our first responders,
empowering our firefighters this morning, empowering moms who have lost
a child. Speaking to Douglas Richmond and Toronto feature here
this morning talking about the inaugural five k fun Run
and walk, and as Doug said, you know, one of
(19:50):
the things to do to de stress is to work out.
So this fun run, you can definitely come out, get
your steps in, but understand it's for a g great cause.
It's pouring into a foundation to help single moms, but
also fight that mental stress when you lose someone.
Speaker 3 (20:06):
You have to keep going.
Speaker 1 (20:08):
Doug, I know that when you sent me the email,
it triggered me to understand that we are in the
community for each other. We are here to support each other.
So when I saw this, it triggered an emotion for me.
But I thank you for pouring into the community like
you've been doing with the memory of Michael Lee Friedlan.
(20:30):
Is there anything you'd like to say to the community,
the fellow firefighters that are in the paint or standing
in the wind with you, you know, just this day,
how we should come together. The brotherhood is strong to
what I see, anything you'd like to share with the community.
Speaker 4 (20:45):
I just want to give a huge thank to everybody
involved for continuing to the uplift Mic in this way
and everything that everybody has done to continue his life
as a firepartner. I know that a lot of us
we still truly missed Mike to this day, and we
still put forward the effort to make sure we keeping
(21:06):
name a lot and do as he would do. We
always walk around make sure everybody hey, cack ahead a
smile day, because every time we saw Mike, that's all
it was, it was a big smile. I never saw
Mike have a bad day, even if things were going
awry and it was, you know, things were kind of
hitting the fan, Mike was still smiling. Michae was still
there and being supportive to everybody involved. So I just
(21:27):
want to tell all my fellow firefighters and anybody in
the community when you see it's a smile at us,
and give us a smile and know that we're here
for you. Guys in the community, and from my brothers
that are fighting the same fight that I'm fighting, have
each other's back. Let's show up and continue to support.
I know we have a huge turnout and I think
it's going to be awesome community.
Speaker 1 (21:46):
On November the eleventh, twenty twenty one, while in the
line of duty, Engineer Michael Lee Friedland went home to
be with the Lord.
Speaker 3 (21:56):
And this is why.
Speaker 1 (21:56):
We're talking to his mom and we're talking to his
friend about being a first responder, but also about keeping
his legacy alive. So please join in the inaugural All
Heroes don't wear capes five K Fun Run, and we
want everybody to understand that this is a mission that
(22:17):
will keep going. This is the inaugural, So get ready
for the second annual and get ready for just responding
community because as we know, the world's in crisis right now.
So I want to command all the first responders out
there because you know, blood pressures are going up, and
it's not just about blood pressure, it's about you know
(22:38):
that call, but mostly moving forward, I think you're going
to get a lot of calls about blood pressure due
to just the crisis that is going on. So I
thank you for being in our community, and I thank
all first responders for the job that they do.
Speaker 3 (22:52):
It is not easy. As you can see.
Speaker 1 (22:55):
Michael Lee Friedlan I was in the line of duty
when he passed, and his heart was so big. I
want everyone to understand have that heart as well. T
and I know this Toll. I pray for you, So
pray for me because Michael's like a son to me too.
Speaker 2 (23:10):
Yeah. Will Yeah.
Speaker 1 (23:11):
We are here to address this fun run and to
address being there for our community.
Speaker 3 (23:19):
So together we will rise.
Speaker 1 (23:20):
Together, we will ensure that Michael Lee Friedland legacy is
alive in our community. So community, please check out the
website TEA if you would tell.
Speaker 2 (23:30):
Us for the Mike Freelandfoundation dot org. If you go
to Mike Creland Foundation dot org. It will connect you.
You can register there, you can click on it and
it'll have an area for you to be able to
sign up for the race.
Speaker 3 (23:47):
And Doug, is there anything else that you'd like to share?
Speaker 4 (23:49):
Thank you for having me.
Speaker 3 (23:51):
It was a pleasure.
Speaker 1 (23:51):
Community Toronta feature and Douglas Richmond here with us today
in regards to the All Heroes Don't Wear Capes five
k and fun run, empowering the community with the legacy
of Michael Lee Friedland. Be sure to check out our
community calendar page. We will have the information as well.
And let's pour into the community. Let's get to work,
let's exercise and remember a great man and get our
(24:15):
steps in and you never know who you might meet
along the way in this walk to anything else.
Speaker 2 (24:20):
Well, actually, I just want to tell you, thank you,
Seanie for giving me this opportunity to be able to
speak to the community about the legacy of Mike. And
thank you for all you do empowering the community and
educating us on the event and just things that are
going on around our community and keeping us together and informed.
Speaker 3 (24:43):
It's what we do.
Speaker 1 (24:44):
So pray for me like I pray for you here
to help the community and serve.
Speaker 3 (24:48):
Like Mike did, thank you.
Speaker 2 (24:49):
I appreciate this, I really do it.
Speaker 3 (24:51):
Thank you community.
Speaker 1 (24:52):
Check out our community calendar page for all our events
helping and serving. On October twenty third, Osborne Orthodonics their
annual Thanksgiving food drive. They are collecting non perishable food
items and accepting monetary donations to help local families enjoy
a warm Thanksgiving. If you know a family in need,
check out our website for more information. We also have
(25:13):
an opportunity for you to help those impacted by Hurricane Melissa.
There is a relief mission in Jamaica via the Sandals Foundation.
And on Veterans Day, we teamed up with K nine
for Warriors First Coast News for the tenth annual Veterans
Day telethon November the eleventh, six am till eight pm,
benefiting the Canine for Warriors, the nation's largest provider of
(25:35):
trained service dogs to the military veterans living with PTSD,
traumatic brain injury and military sexual trauma. And we're also
pouring into the community locally with the Clara White Mission,
Feed the City and Holiday food Drive pre Thanksgiving Luncheon
for the homeless and low income families free for all,
including haircuts, clothing, and entertainment. You can also help the
(25:58):
Claia White Mission with their Holiday Foods Drive wish list.
Check out our community calendar page for all the details
on how you can empower the community through this holiday
season and the local love does not stop. The Steve
Harvey Morning Show Turkey Give will happen Tuesday, November twenty fifth,
in the season of Giving, Turkeys will be given away
to those in need. The first one hundred people will
(26:20):
receive a gift card good to purchase one turkey.
Speaker 3 (26:23):
Community be sure to check out.
Speaker 1 (26:24):
Our community calendar page where you will find all the
information of services helping through this crisis and helping those
in need locally. Thank you for listening to community viewpoints.
Have a blessed day and be a blessing
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