PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — What could be the last “Run for the Fallen” road race to raise money for families of Maine military personnel killed in combat featured more than 200 runners.

The participants, escorted by Maine State Police cruisers, departed Sunday morning from Ogunquit for the run up U.S. 1 to the finish line in Portland.

The event honors military personnel with ties to Maine killed since Sept. 11, 2001.

U.S. Sen. Olympia Snowe called it “a thoughtful and lasting tribute to those Mainers who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedoms in both Iraq and Afghanistan.”

Sunday’s event was expected to be the last road race in its current form. Founder John Mixon and Robert Winn organized the first run in 2008 but they’ve had a falling out.

Copyright 2012 The Associated Press.

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