STATEN ISLAND, N.Y., June 08, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Today, June 8, 2017, the SSG Michael Ollis Freedom Foundation proudly announced that the Polish & Slavic Federal Credit Union has signed-on as an official partner & sponsor of the 1st Annual SSG Michael Ollis Memorial 5K Run/Walk taking place this Sunday, June 11, 2017 in New Dorp, Staten Island, NY.
A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/52b0b90f-4ff4-49ad-be1b-92c25a85782d
“Ever since Michael's sacrificed to save his fellow serviceman, the outpouring of support and appreciation from the Republic of Poland, Polish-Americans, and the Polish & Slavic Federal Credit Union (PFSCU) has been overwhelming," said Robert and Linda Ollis, parents of fallen Army SSG Michael Ollis. As has been widely reported, SSG Michael Ollis heroically sacrificed his life to shield Polish Lt. Karol Cierpica from a suicide attack when their forward operating base (FOB) in Afghanistan was ambushed in a suicide attack in 2013. Since then, Karol, the Polish government and its representatives, the PSFCU, and countless members of the Polish-American community have worked hard to commemorate the memory and heroic sacrifice of SSG Ollis. In fact, the Polish Government posthumously awarded SSG Ollis the Army Gold Medal, Poland's highest honor for a foreign solider, and when the Lt. Cierpica's baby boy was born in 2015, they named him Michael in honor of SSG Ollis.
“The Polish & Slavic Federal Credit Union (PSFCU) is proud to provide financial support for the First Annual SSG Michael Ollis Memorial 5K Run/Walk. Since 2015 PSFCU have been actively supporting Linda and Bob Ollis. We are honored to be part of this event. Polish-Americans from the whole New York metropolitan area admire the fallen hero and actively support celebrating Michael’s noble posture. He heroically gave his life in Afghanistan to save his Polish brother in arms Lieutenant Karol Cierpica. We are thankful for heroes like him," says Agnieszka Chwatko, PSFCU Staten Island Branch Manager.
The 1st Annual SSG Michael Ollis Memorial 5K Run/Walk will take place this Sunday, June 11, 2017, with the opening ceremony beginning at 8:30 AM and the race kicking off at 9:00 AM. A street festival and celebration will take place on New Dorp Lane after the race from 10:30 AM to 12 PM. Those interested in signing up can register at OllisRace.Eventbrite.com until 12 AM tonight, Thursday June 8, and can e-mail OllisRace@gmail.com with questions. The entry fee is $35.00 per person, and over 500 participants have already signed up for the race as of June 7. The SSG Michael Ollis Freedom Foundation is actively seeking additional race volunteers, who should e-mail OllisRace@gmail.com with their contact information.