Vernon police officer to run in scholarship fundraiser
Mar. 4—VERNON — Mike Patrizz, a local police officer and SWAT operator for the Capital Region Emergency Services Team, plans to run 48 miles this weekend as part of a fundraiser for Rockville High School students.
Patrizz will be completing the 4x4x48 Challenge, created by Navy SEAL David Goggins, which challenges people to run 48 miles in 48 hours. The challenge is completed by running four miles every four hours, and Patrizz will be joined at various points by fellow local police officers, CREST members, and RHS graduates.
4x4x48 CHALLENGE
WHAT: Local police officer Mike Patrizz is running 48 miles in 48 hours this weekend to raise scholarship funds for Rockville High School students.
GOAL: To raise a $1,000 annual scholarship for students who plan to attend college, learn a trade or serve in the military once they graduate.
Graduating in 2004, Patrizz participated in wrestling, lacrosse, and track while attending RHS. He said he wants to award $1,000 a year to a student who writes an essay explaining how they overcame a physically or mentally demanding challenge.
"Kids are going through a tough time right now," Patrizz said, noting that the novel coronavirus pandemic has posed a unique challenge to school age children.
Patrizz said he and his fellow Capital Region Emergency Services Team, or CREST, members engage in friendly competition every month with challenges including who can run the most miles or perform the most burpees — a repetitive squat, thrust, stand exercise.
"I always believe in pushing myself both physically and mentally," said Patrizz, who plays rugby for the Hartford Wanderers Rugby Club.
The scholarship, Patrizz said, is available for students who plan to attend college, learn a trade, or serve in the military. His goal is to raise $4,800, and his online fundraiser had $4,566 in donations as of this morning. He said he hopes to exceed his goal, which would allow him to offer additional scholarships.
Superintendent Joseph Macary, who donated to the fundraiser, said he thinks it is a great idea.
"It doesn't surprise me that the Vernon Police Department always wants to support the community," he said, adding that he was proud and happy when he learned about the fundraiser.
Patrizz said the routes for his various four-mile runs are yet to be determined, but he said some of them would take place at the Rockville High School track.
More information can be found by visiting
www.gofundme.com/f/rockville-strong-the-power-from-within
For updates and coverage of Vernon and Stafford, follow Anthony Branciforte on Twitter: @ABranciforte_JI, Facebook: Reporter Anthony Branciforte, and Instagram: @JI_Anthony1.
