WORCESTER, Mass. —  If you were in the Shrewsbury Street area Sunday morning, you may have seen a bunch of runners. The Worcester City View 5K kicked off, and it's all for a good cause.

The 5K is a fundraising event in support of Worcester police officers, who will be running to Washington D.C. for police week this year. The race started at Pepe's on Shrewsbury Street, headed down towards Plantation Street and Franklin, before heading back to the start. The 5K has a very special cause behind it this year, as it will help them support fallen fellow officer, Enmanuel “Manny” Familia, who will be placed on the National Law Enforcement Memorial wall during Police Week. Familia died in June 2021 while attempting to save 14-year-old Troy Love who was drowning in Green Hill Pond. Love also died.

"This means the world to us in the Worcester Police Department and law enforcement in general, to see the turnout. When we started getting the word out there, we had over 40 sponsors come in and sponsor from the community. We had Pepe's, was more than willing to help us out with anything that we needed. We had donations from Polar to get water for the race. And it just means a lot to us that the community shares the mission with us to get down there, always remember Manny and his family, and a law enforcement mission in general."

All additional proceeds from the 5K will go towards obtaining essential water safety equipment for the Worcester Police Department. Members of the department will leave for our nation's capital May 9.