By FireRescue1 Staff
LAPORTE, Texas — For one Texas firefighter, his boots were made for more than battling fires -- they were made for walking.
Firefighter Tony Constanzo walked for 24 hours straight on a treadmill in full gear from 12 p.m. Friday to noon Saturday to raise funds for children of fallen first responders.
“October is Fire Prevention Month, so that’s the reason for this time of year for us, Footsteps for the Fallen, to honor our fallen,” Constanzo told KHOU. “Every Oct. 1 I try to do something out of normal.”
The nonprofit raises funds for scholarships for children of fallen firefighters and first responders. Constanzo walked 439 miles in 11 days last year for the cause.
“I dream for the day that we can say we didn’t lose any firefighter,” Constanzo said.
This year, Constanzo walked 16 and a half hours before burning out a treadmill and had to switch to a second one.
When the 32-year veteran needed a bathroom break, gym employees paused the clock until he could resume walking.
Upon finishing his walk, Constanzo treated himself to a cheeseburger.