Swampscott road race to benefit Raymond committee

SWAMPSCOTT – The Jared Raymond Memorial Fund Committee will be holding a 5K Road Race next month in memory of U.S. Army Specialist Jared Raymond, who was killed in action on Sept. 19, 2006.Jared, the first Swampscott military casualty in the Iraq War, was killed in action while serving with the 1st Battalion 66th Armored Regiment 4th Infantry Division.Money from the fund will be used to provide scholarships to Camp Rotary, college scholarships for individuals pursuing a career in law enforcement and to send packages to troops overseas.According to his family members, law enforcement and Camp Rotary were two causes that were near and dear to Jared, who started attending Camp Rotary when he was eight years old and then went on to become a counselor there. Jim Raymond said his nephew Jared loved Camp Rotary and would have wanted other children to have the opportunity to attend the summer camp in Boxford.”He was the kind of kid that never wanted any recognition or attention,” Jim said. “But he loved helping people and always said he wanted to do something for Camp Rotary. Even when he was a kid in school he would help other kids. He had a good heart.”Jim said his nephew always said when he got out of the service he wanted to study law enforcement so now his family wants to help other students entering the law enforcement field with scholarships in Jared’s memory.”This is something Jared would have wanted,” he said. “He wanted to become a police officer when he got out of the service.”Jacki Raymond, Jared’s mother, said a portion of the proceeds from the race would be donated to the Capt. Jennifer Harris Fund, who was killed in Iraq in February 2007 when enemy insurgents shot down the helicopter she was piloting.The race, which will be held on Sept. 20, will get underway at 9:30 a.m. at Swampscott High School. Organizers said walkers and strollers are welcome but pets, Rollerbladers and cyclists are prohibited for safety reasons.The entry fee for the road race is $16 for individuals who pre-register by Sept. 2 and $20 on the day of the race. Entry forms are available at St. John’s Church in Swampscott and at www.rememberingjared.org, and should be sent to Jacki Raymond, 30 Pitman Road, Swampscott, MA 01907. Checks should be made payable to the Jared Raymond Memorial Fund.