A retired New York police officer recently ran 50 marathons in 50 days as a tribute to a fallen colleague, while also using the feat to raise money for the grieving family.

The moving story is about 57-year-old Brett Sobieraski, who ran in honor of fallen officer Anthony Mazurkiewicz, who was tragically killed in a shooting last year. He has since managed to raise a whopping $105,000 for the family.

54-year-old police officer Anthony “Tony” Mazurkiewicz lost his life in a shooting that took place on July 21, 2022, which also injured another officer and a bystander.

Mazurkiewicz, a 29-year veteran of the Rochester Police Department in New York, was survived by his beloved wife, Lynn Mazurkiewicz, four children and three grandchildren.

Lynn spoke fondly of her late husband, describing him as a “super dad,” a model employee and an individual who radiated warmth and positivity.

In an emotional interview with NBC News anchor Harry Smith on the TODAY show, aired on July 20, 2023, Lynn shared her gratitude and admiration for the man determined to honor Tony’s memory.

Brett Sobieraski, a retired sergeant from the Rochester Police Department’s SWAT team, had meanwhile spent his retirement days with adventurous pursuits like ultra-marathons and endurance sports.

After several months following Tony’s tragic passing, Brett decided to take extraordinary action to pay tribute to his fallen comrade.

Inspired by the memory of Tony and driven by a desire to support his family, Brett conceived a monumental plan — to run one marathon every day for nearly two months, traversing the east coast through eight states.

The decision to cover eight states was symbolic, as Tony had been a valued member of Rochester Police Department’s elite tactical unit, bearing the number designation “eight.”

“I knew I wanted to do something, and it just came to me in the middle of the night … that I’m going to run marathons through eight states,” Sobieraski said in an interview. “Tony worked in the elite tactical unit within Rochester Police Department, and their number designator is eight.”

Despite having never met Brett before, Lynn had heard about his adventurous spirit from her late husband, who often shared stories of Brett’s daring exploits after retiring from the police force.

“He’s the kindest man, genuinely. But he’s crazy … Nobody does that,” Lynn said.

Brett’s motivation for the 50-marathon journey was twofold: to bring attention to Tony’s sacrifice and to provide financial and emotional support to the grieving family.

Armed with an RV to serve as his home during the nights on the road, Brett set off on his monumental journey in April, beginning in Florida and covering a staggering 1,310 miles, passing through Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia, Pennsylvania and finally ending in Rochester, New York, on June 11.

Each day, Brett ran a full 26.2-mile marathon, starting from the previous day’s finish line. It was no easy feat, and he went through four-and-a-half pairs of shoes during the journey. Surprisingly, Brett was not always athletically inclined; in his younger days, he even smoked heavily for 16 years.

However, at the age of 36, inspired by his children, he decided to quit smoking and improve his physical health, eventually venturing into ultra-marathons and 100-mile races.

The 50-marathon journey came with its share of challenges, and Brett faced moments of doubt about how he would continue running each day. However, he stayed motivated by looking at the photo of Tony Mazurkiewicz that he taped to the wall of his RV — a daily reminder of the purpose behind his extraordinary effort.

Lynn also played an instrumental role in supporting and encouraging Brett, sending him uplifting dad jokes every morning to keep his spirits high.

Along the way, Brett encountered the kindness and generosity of many people who contributed to his cause.

Their support and donations became significant motivators for him to continue pushing forward.

One particular incident that left a lasting impression on Brett was when a waitress in Elkins, Virginia, who was also the owner and cashier of an all-you-can-eat buffet, donated all her tips for the day after learning about his mission.

“I saw the fabric of America and it was absolutely beautiful,” he recounted.

As the days progressed, Brett’s mental and physical strength improved, and he recorded his fastest times during the last two weeks of the 50-day marathon journey.

Finally, on the 50th and final marathon, which took him back to Rochester, Brett invited people to run with him for the last few miles, creating a touching display of solidarity in honoring Tony and supporting his family. Over 900 people joined him, far surpassing the 500 he had hoped for.

Brett’s dedication paid off in more ways than one, as he managed to raise over $105,000 for the Mazurkiewicz family during his marathon odyssey. In addition to the financial support, he honored Lynn’s request by leaving a blue heart-shaped rock in every state he ran through, symbolizing a piece of their hearts left behind on his journey.

Despite experiencing waves of fatigue from the marathons, Brett’s desire to preserve Tony’s memory remained strong.

“I just want to constantly honor Tony’s sacrifice,” he said.