Honoring a fallen firefighter with a fundraising race
Charity has distributed about $80,000 in funds for firefighter gear and scholarships
The following article appeared in the March 25, 2024, edition of The Charlotte Ledger, an e-newsletter with smart and original local news for Charlotte. We offer free and paid subscription plans. More info here.
Eight years after a firefighter’s death, his parents continue to honor his legacy with charity races for gear and scholarships; this year’s race will be April 20 in Pineville
The Richard Sheltra Memorial Foundation is holding a charity run on April 20 to raise money for firefighters and to honor 20-year-old Richard Sheltra, who died fighting a fire in Pineville in 2016. (Photo from Richard Sheltra Memorial Foundation)
Mike and Linay Sheltra’s son Richard was 20 when he died on April 30, 2016, fighting a fire in a Pineville shopping center with the Pineville Volunteer Fire Department.
The week before his death had been perhaps “the best week of his life,” Linay Sheltra says. Richard had hit several personal goals in his weightlifting, he was working while taking a full courseload at Central Piedmont Community College, and he had just been notified that the city of Charlotte wanted to interview him because he had passed the physical requirements for the Charlotte Fire Department.
“I mean, everything was aligning perfectly for this kid,” Linay Sheltra told the Ledger in a recent interview.
Mother and son walked together that Saturday morning in a sarcoma charity walk, and that night, the Sheltras — who had both been firefighters themselves — got the devastating news: Their son had died while fighting a fire.
Following Richard’s death, the Sheltras created a nonprofit in his honor to purchase new gear for volunteer fire departments and provide educational scholarships for first responders. So far, the 501(c)3 nonprofit has distributed about $80,000 in funds for gear and scholarships, Richard Sheltra said.
Most of the funding for gear goes to small volunteer fire departments in North and South Carolina, which often struggle to provide their firefighters with the turnout gear — the equipment firefighters wear when responding to a fire — that they need to stay safe.
On April 20, the Richard Sheltra Memorial Foundation will host its seventh charity run to raise money for the cause. The opening ceremony will start at 7 a.m. at Belle Johnston Community Center in Pineville, and participants can run in a certified 10K, 5K or take part in 1-mile fun run or walk.
How would Richard feel about people running in his honor?
“Oh, he’d be so embarrassed — he didn’t like attention,” Linay said, laughing. “But I think he would be very pleased.”
Get more information or register for the race here. —Cristina Bolling
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Executive editor: Tony Mecia; Managing editor: Cristina Bolling; Staff writer: Lindsey Banks; Business manager: Brie Chrisman