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WHEREAS, the 31st annual Brookline Breeze 5K Run and Fitness Walk kicked off at 9:00 a.m. on the bright morning of August 11, 2012 at Brookline Memorial Park and set off for the hilly Brookline Boulevard route; and
WHEREAS, soon after, at the intersection of Brookline Boulevard and Whited Street, Mr. Tim Keefer, a retired Pittsburgh Public Schools Health Instructor who was participating in that morning's race, began feeling dizzy and collapsed onto the street; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Keefer suddenly fell into cardiac arrest, registering no pulse; and
WHEREAS, two fellow racers stopped and were the first to assist Mr. Keefer: Mr. Colin Hackman, a meteorologist from Wilmington, North Carolina, and Mr. Rizieri Valles, an off-duty Pittsburgh paramedic; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Hackman and Mr. Valles showed true valor in taking the time to stop and help their fellow man and Pittsburgher; and
WHEREAS, within four minutes, Pittsburgh Emergency Medical Services paramedics Stephen Carlson, Barry Warble, Ed Carlino, Jennifer Grub, Brad Ruppand, Scott Lowman, and Steven Joos were on the scene and providing first responder care; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Keefer was transported to Mercy Hospital, where he was outfitted with a lifesaving pacemaker; and
WHEREAS, the entire incident demonstrates the care and consideration that Brookline is known for and shows how heroic actions can truly make a difference in someone's life.
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THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Council of the City of Pittsburgh honors the heroic actions of Rizieri Valles and the Pittsburgh Paramedics during the events of August 11th; and
THEREFORE BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Council of the City of Pittsburgh does hereby declare Monday, November 19th, 2012 to be Brookline Breeze Heroes Day in the City of Pittsburgh.