NEW YORK — Brian Jordan, OFM, ran in the New York City Marathon last weekend, raising money for New York City construction workers who were killed or severely injured this year. This was Brian’s 20th New York marathon and 56th marathon in total. His time was 5:14, five minutes better than last year, Brian said.
The fundraiser was a likely event for Brian, who is chaplain of the Building Trades and Construction Council of New York City. He began ministering to construction workers when he was a chaplain at Ground Zero after Sept. 11.
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“This is going to be one of the most emotionally draining marathons I’ve ever run in my life,” Brian was quoted as saying in a Daily News story on Oct. 30, “Priest Dedicates 20th Marathon Run to Fallen Construction Workers.”
“I was present at many of the wakes and funerals for these construction workers”, Brian said last week. “I’ll be praying for them as I run across the bridges they built and past the buildings they put up.”
Construction accidents made the news several times this year in New York, when six workers were killed in a March 15 crane collapse on Second Avenue and 52nd Street. Two others were killed on May 30 when another crane collapsed on First Avenue and 91st Street. Nineteen construction workers were reported killed in accidents this year.
Coincidentally, Brian said, the marathon took place on Nov. 2, the Feast of All Souls, recalling the deceased by loved ones, family members and friends.
Brian ran for both deceased union and non-union workers during the marathon. “God loves us equally during life and death,” he says. “However, your chances for survival are far greater if you join the construction workers’ unions and receive the proper safety training.”
The Daily News article, written by Larry McShane, quotes Gary La Barbera, president of the New York City Central Labor Council. “Fr. Brian Jordan is paying an incredible tribute to all New York City building trades workers,” said Barbera. The article included two photos; one showed Brian running in his Brian 4 Labor shirt.
His interview with Newsradio 88, the New York CBS station, could be heard on Sunday and Monday.
Launch of a New Fund
Brian presided over an April memorial for victims in St. Patrick’s Cathedral and was hopeful that average New Yorkers would help out.
The run also launched the Construction Workers Relief Fund, an organization to raise money for families of future work site tragedy victims.
Brian requests that people give generously to a new fund that will dispense money gifts to family members of future victims of worksite accidents. A special committee will be appointed to carefully distribute these funds as needed.
Donations can be sent to:
Construction Workers’ Relief Fund
c/o Building Trades and Construction Council
71 W. 23rd St. Suite 501
New York NY 10010
Brian lives at Holy Name of Jesus Friary on Manhattan’s Upper West Side.