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My life after my Ground Zero service was forever changed as I received a calling to do something with the rest of my life that would make a difference. I was invited to Ecuador and toured the country sharing my experiences at Ground Zero. I soon realized the desperate need for support on so many levels for the first responders of Ecuador. Gear Up was formed to assist with the training of these brave individuals, as well as supply them with the equipment and gear to do their job properly and safely. As part of this assistance, we help with teaching fire safety and prevention to children, and support on-going operations that will be able to protect the environment from fire which is now being used to clear the rain-forests. It is imperative that we help to deliver this message within our operations. We are able to use our contacts and our resources to show these firefighters how to become self-sufficient. Thanks to brothers like George Steiner, Hero Program Coordinator and Mark Millington director of UK Operations, Gear Up Foundation continues to fulfill it's mission. George has been like a knight in shining armor offering so much of his time and effort to Gear Up. He through his deeds exemplifies all that is good within a firefighter. He has been personally responsible for bringing in untold amounts of gear and continues to build close relationships with local fire departments. Mark Millington, an officer in Nottingham England has been closely involved with the foundation for a long while. His dedication to the mission along with encouraging enormous amounts of donations of gear continue to allow for us to help our brother firefighters save lives. Mark and George would be my knights in olden days and I consider them both my Guardian Angels. Their pictures should appear in the dictionary under the tiles, noble and generous men of action in the firefighting community!
With our international activity starting in Ecuador, we have formulated a plan to help the entire region and we are working diligently to fulfill our mission. With the aid of our regional directors around the world (Philippines, England, Ecuador, Peru & Bolivia), direct action in each country can be taken with rapid results in fulfillment of our mission. The next steps are finding mentors who will help to make this dream a reality. We have had incredible success in South America and the Philippines recently, giving us great pleasure in knowing that our logistics planning and process is readily repeatable and can be
Now, after five years of serving fire departments in need, we face a very different set of challenges and questions. We have realized that more rescuers are dying and continue to die as a result of their exposure to the toxic environment of Ground Zero while we continue to loose brave warriors in the line of duty. We will make sure their names and service will not be forgotten, by formally recognizing and honoring them. We invite you to join our Hero Program, which has provided American firefighters with the opportunity to heal the pain caused by the attack of 9/11, by adopting a fire department in South America, becoming a part of our Kids Safely and Community service programs and mentoring their firefighters.We also encourage the corporate community along with environmentally conscious individuals to participate in and support our efforts to discourage the burning of the rain forests, a global treasure that needs to be protected
Gear Up Foundation cordially invites you to become a member of our Living Tribute Program as a tribute to those who perished on 9/11 and those who continue to make the ultimate sacrifice by doing great deeds in their names. Our programs are created to help rescuers cope with the events of 9/11 helping firefighters and emergency responders in need around the world. Each program spreads hope, harmony, and brotherhood, across boundaries and nations. Become an Ambassador of Goodwill and help us to bring some good out of the tragedy of the attacks of September 11th.
