Girl honors fallen K9 officers with a mile run at Hartnell College

SALINAS, Calif. (KION) It's a story we brought you almost a year ago-- a young girl who started a lemonade stand, Love with Lemons, to help raise money for fallen officers and their families. Tuesday, eight year old Theresa Ann returned to Salinas, from Nevada, to run a mile. She did all four laps, while holding a flag representing her cause.

Salinas patrol cars, with sirens blaring and lights on, escorted Theresa Ann and her family to the Hartnell College track. There to cheer her on, a group of local first responders and special guest, K9 Officer Oakley.

Zach Dunagan, K9 Handler (K9 Oakley) - Gang/ Narcotics Investigator for the Salinas Police Department, “He’s met Teresa, I think three times now. She’s a very public figure here in Salinas. She travels here quite often even though she lives in Nevada so she’s around a lot and every time she is out here she tries to say "hi" to Oakley."

Because of the prior visits, Theresa Ann and family reached out to Dunagan via social media, to setup Tuesday's run. The four laps around the track is to represent officer's four legged partners in crime. like Oakley. It's part of a national organization, Running for Heroes, which represents fallen officers, firefighters and soldiers. But, Teresa Ann wanted to represent a different kind of hero and one just as important.

"I wanted to run for all the K9s lost. Because they don't get recognized as much as police do," said Theresa Ann. Salinas was her California stop, and second run. Her first run was in Nevada.

Theresa's father Robert Babcock said the ultimate goal, "She decided she wants to do a mile for each K9 that’s been lost in the line of duty and we are going to do every state, and she wants to run at least one mile in every state." Babcock also mentioned that she's been supporting officers since she was three years old. She has visited 24 police stations throughout California, and another 13 stations in Texas. Her lemonade stand, raised 19,000 dollars in the four years she operated it.

“She just validates us, our work and most importantly the memory of those who have given the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty,” said Chief Adele Fresé, Salinas Police.

With one lap left, offers cheering her on from the sidelines, joined her. At the finish line the flag Teresa Ann was running with the entire time, was presented to Salinas Police Chief Adele Fresé .The inspiring young girl has a busy summer ahead from here on out. Her next stop will be June 5th in Texas where she'll run another mile, as well as give away a K9 vest to a handler.

If you're curious about Theresa Ann's jounrey you can follow her on social media, using @lovewithlemons.