Walk for fallen police officers scheduled for May 15

Odessa, FL - Chris Lauber and Lorraine Yaslowitz didn't know each other until a few weeks ago.

A mutual friend asked them to meet, hoping Chris could help fullfill Lorraine's wish.

"When I came home that night, Frankly I could not sleep. I was just motivated to try and do something that would be meaningful to Lorraine, the police department the community in genera," Lauber said.

Lorraine wanted to hold a race in the honor of her husband, Jeff Yaslowitz, who was shot and killed by a suspect hiding in an attic.

"It just grabbed me." Lauber explained.  "I have to do this so here we go."

Promoting and putting together races is what Lauber does--he's a professional race director.

In no time, he helped coach Lorraine to record a public service announcement.

He invited ABC ACTION NEWS to be the media partner.

The name chosen by Lorriane -- "Partners in Life" -- symbolizes the relationship between Lorraine and Jeff,

A date is set and hundreds have signed up to run and walk. The walk will also honor Sgt. Thomas Baitinger who died alongside Jeff, and David Crawford who was killed just a month later pursuing a suspicious person.

"It's a wonderful thing she is doing," said St. Petersburg Police Chief Chuck Harmon.

Harmon got to know Lorraine through this tragedy. He told us how Loraine continues to impress him.

"With her spirit, her faith and her beliefs there was no doubt she was destined to help others and I think that will only continue as she goes forward," he said.

On the other side of the Bay, Tampa's police Chief Jane Castor said she could not agree more.

"I think it is a great idea," she said.  "It's a way for the community and the police department to come together and show each other support and it is also a great way to recognize the sacrifice of the officers killed in the line of duty have made for their community."

In fact, Tampa has a memorial run that Castor runs in each year. She shares it has grown significantly since her department lost three of its finest: Cpl. Mike Roberts, David Curtis and Jeff Kocab.

We asked the Chief if she would run in St. Pete's inaugural race.

"I certainly would," she said,  "Unfortunately for this event, I am going to be in Washington D.C.  That is actually the national law enforcement memorial weekend. I'm going to be in D.C., or otherwise I would be there."

The timing was carefully planned by Chris. While he realizes some may not be able to make it like Castor--he hopes the run on May 15th will raise awareness in our community.

"When I started investigating these possible dates, I found out that there is a police appreciation, well, nationally, I was shocked that I did not know about that and so I hope this event will spur on other businesses other individuals to do what they can," Lauber said.

Lorraine's goal is to make this an annual event. Chief Harmon has no doubt her dream may in fact come true.

"I know it will be supported well by the folks here and this community and it would not surprise me at all if it continued to grow," he said.

An old knee injury will prevent Chief Harmon from running, but he said he will be there.

So will many members of the ABC ACTION NEWS team.

Lorraine has asked our Sarina Fazan to run alongside her.

"It is an honor and I am humbled. I've also got my running shoes out to train for the big race on the 15th," Fazan said.

For more information on the race, you can head to FLRoadRaces.com.