Murph Mile Honors Veteran Lifeguard

CAPE MAY – The first running of The Murph Mile succeeded beyond the hopes of organizers. The Cape May Beach Patrol Benevolent Association organized the race to raise money for Clete Cannone Scholarship Fund. It is named in honor of long-time Cape May Beach Patrol lifeguard Kevin Murphy who passed away last year at the age of 44. In addition to being a lifeguard for over 20 years, Murphy also served as an Atlantic City firefighter.
The mile-long race began at Philadelphia and Beach avenues and ended at Grant and beach.
Lt. Harry Back and Capt. Buzz Mogck were thrilled with the number of participants for the first-time event.
The final number of runners was 110. Among them was Taylor Bury, 20, of York, Pa. Bury was first among female runners. Cheryl Bury, Bury’s mother, told the Herald her daughter ran to honor the memory of her little brother Jimmy. Bury’s sibling perished in a fire at age 10.
“We give scholarships to graduating seniors of Manchester High School in Jimmy’s memory,” Bury said. “I think this is a wonderful event to remember their fellow lifeguard and firefighter, Kevin Murphy.”
Among non-runners supporting the event was Judy Rife, mother of Lt. Geoffrey Rife, a lifelong friend of Murphy’s. She recalled him as “a most wonderful man, humble, kind, courageous – someone we could be proud of and who needs to be remembered.”
Bud Wilson of Erma, a spectator, went to support the event recalling his days as a Wildwood lifeguard. “I was a junior lifeguard in high school and then moved on to being a full-time lifeguard on the beaches of Wildwood in the late ’50s,” he said.
Every runner received a T-shirt designed by Mogck and donated by Wave One Sports.
Lt. Pete Pietras said the event was a community-wide effort “from the fire police controlling traffic to the town government who facilitated blocking the road way for the time of the event.”
Award categories included:
• Top three masters finishers male and female (runner’s age 40 and above)
• First lifeguard male and female
• First firefighter male and female
• First lifeguard team (three members) combined times of all three runners
• First firefighter team (three members) combined times of all three runners
The runners came from as far away as Oakland, Calif. and Quebec, Canada.
They ranged in age from 14 and under to over 70.
Lou Dwyer of Court House won the over-70 category.
Patrice Back of Cape May took honors for the 40 to 44 female category.
Barbara Cresse of Court House won in the 65-69 female group. Cresse told the Herald she did not start running until she was 55.
In the team division, the Wildwood Beach Patrol Team 1 took the prize.
At the end of the day, Murphy’s memory was honored, money was raised for the scholarship and the community came together in solidarity with those brave men and women who protect our beaches and put out our fires.
To contact Helen McCaffrey, email hmccaffrey@cmcherald.com.