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Lt. John Cain passes away
Cain
Richmond Hill resident John Cain of the SCMPD helps an injured runner finish the 2015 Savannah Rock 'N' Roll Marathon. Cain passed away over the weekend after a nearly year-long battle with cancer. - photo by Photo courtesy of SCMPD

The Savannah police officer and Richmond Hill resident whose act of kindness during the 2015 Savannah Rock ‘N’ Roll Marathon drew national attention has passed away, according to his family.

Lt. John Cain, who lived in Richmond Hill but worked for Savanah-Chatham Metro Police Department for 27 years, died Sunday after a nearly year-long battle with pancreatic cancer.

Cain came to prominence during the 2015 marathon when he helped Robert McCoy of Hinesville finish the last 200 yards of the race after the runner fell hard. After McCoy fell, paramedics advised him to end the race, but he explained that he was running in memory of his father, who passed away from cancer. Cain helped McCoy to his feet, and despite a bloodied face and knees the runner was able to finish with Cain at his side. Photos of the event quickly went viral.

“It is with deep sorrow and regret that I must inform everyone that my father John Cain is no longer with us,” his son George Cain said in a tweet Sunday. “He has moved onto a bigger and better place where pain and suffering is no longer a thing for him. May he forever be at peace and smile as he looks down and watches over us all.”

Game Changers held a charity 5K to raise money for Cain’s treatment in April that raised $8,000 and was attended by McCoy.

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