Hundreds of spectators and runners came out Sunday morning to Lakeville Road in New Hyde Park for the 2nd annual Katie’s 5K run and two-mile walk to honor the memory of Katie McBride and raise funds for the Ronald McDonald House.
Katie McBride passed away in 2008 to a rare cancer known as Burkitt’s Lymphoma. The 5K run in New Hyde Park was made possible through the efforts of the Ronald McDonald House where Katie spent most of her last months, and the New Hyde Park Fire Department.
Katie’s father, Mike McBride, first thought of memorializing his daughter while attending a seminar on special honorary events at a conference in Arizona two years ago, which in time led him to seek the assistance of Tom Biggers, president of the New York Road Runners Club, who ultimately helped McBride plan the event.
As participants came out to support Katie McBride, they also had their own personal dedications, such as New Hyde Park resident runner Marianne Malagon.
“I decided to run in memory of my friends nephew, Jason Oh, who died of leukemia,” said Malagon.
First-time runners, amateurs and seasoned runners were among the more than 800 participants who joined in the race, including nine-time ironman competitor Barbara Cronin-Stagnari.
Cronin-Stagnari said she had been invited by her friend, and race coordinator Walter Kueffner.
“Walter asked me to come, and I’m running in memory of his daughter Karen,” Cronin-Stagnari said. She also had Karen’s name written across her stomach. “I had someone cover me at work today so I could run in this. I think it was a great course.”
Kueffner is a long-time friend of Mike McBride and as part of the awards ceremony for this year, the best female overall time trophy had been dedicated to Kueffner’s daughter Karen, who died five years ago. Kueffner was also on hand to help setup mile markers among other parts of the course, and was happy to help out.
“I’ve run all my life and have been involved in Long Island track and field,” Kueffner said. “Running has been good to me, and I wanted to give back to the community.”
With a spontaneous showing of charity, Kueffner said one spectator donated a check for $50 to the Katie’s Run foundation and handed it one of the race coordinators.
“He just wrote a check for $50 right on the spot,” Kueffner said.
Before the race began New Hyde Park resident Angela Powers sang the national anthem to start the day’s ceremonies, as runners took their mark at 9:25 a.m., awaiting the starting horn from master of ceremonies Terry Bisogno. The first runners showed up at the finish line a little more than 16 minutes later. The first runner to cross the finish line was 17-year-old Thomas Awad at 16:51.7 Awad is a student at Chaminade High School. His time beat out last year’s record of set by Mark Carbone at 17:06.
Finishing in a close second was William Hensler, a 36-year-old runner who came all the way from Brooklyn, at a time of 16:55.9. New Hyde Park High School’s own track and field coach, 27-year-old Bill Buith, took third place with a time of 17:06.4.
The female runners also improved times from the previous year.
Kerri Gallagher, a 22-year-old resident from Belle Harbor, edged out last year’s record holder Bea Huste-Petersen’s time by about 30 seconds with a time of 20:09.4. About a minute laster she was followed by Carmen Anderson, a 46-year-old from Great Neck with a time of 21:09.4. Angela Coppola, a 41-year-old New Hyde Park resident, finished out the female’s third spot with a time of 22:56.
As the last of the runners crossed the finish line, the New Hyde Park Fire Department started up the complimentary barbaque and everyone was given a chance to enjoy burgers, hot dogs, chicken, water, and a play to sit down as tables were setup within the New Hyde Park funeral home parking lot. Pat Farrell and his Cold Spring Harboar Band performed during the festivities of the barbeque.
A raffle was held with prizes that included, a 32-inch plasma TV, a signed photo of the New York Islanders, tickets to the subway series on July 4th at Yankee stadium, and a weekend gateway to Hotel Indigo.
McBride said he plans to continue making the run an annual event, and was happy with how the day went.
“I was very pleased with the turnout, and the New Hyde Park Fire Department was huge, in all their help,” McBride said.
McBride’s wife, Jeanne, said she thought the event went great, and wanted to keep the memory of her daughter alive.
“My biggest fear is people won’t remember my daughter, and how great she was,” McBride said. “But with all these people here showing their support, it’s just an amazing feeling.”
