Fayetteville firefighters trained for the Hero Half Marathon while running along the city’s trail system wearing their full gear on Saturday, Sept. 6.

Courtesy / Ironside Photography

The Fayetteville Firefighters Association will host the first ever Hero Half Marathon on Saturday, Oct. 18.

The event, which benefits local charities and non-profit organizations, includes a half marathon race and a one-mile fun run.

Registration is open to anyone, but a special invitation was made to fire departments across the state. Some firefighters are expected to participate in the events while wearing their full gear, including fire helmets and air tanks.

Deadline to register is Wednesday, Oct. 15.

The event is hosted in partnership with the Cow Paddy Foundation and is funded in part by a $4,000 grant from the Fayetteville Advertising and Promotion Commission.

Organizations benefitting include: Arkansas Special Olympics, Fayetteville Public Education Foundation, Muscular Dystrophy Association, The Cow Paddy Foundation, Movies in the Park, Fayetteville Firefighters Scholarship Fund, and Camp Sunshine. The event will also include a fire safety awareness component.

For details and registration, visit herohalfmarathon.com.