The third annual Katie’s Run 5K run and 2K walk fundraiser for the Ronald McDonald House takes off from the New Hyde Park Funeral Home on Sunday morning.
Michael McBride conceived the event as a memorial to his daughter, Katie, who succumbed to a rare cancer known as Burkitt’s Lymphoma in 2008 at the age of 11. All of the proceeds donated by those who sponsor the 5K run in New Hyde Park the Ronald McDonald House, where Katie spent most of her last months with her family.
“The thing I’m proudest about is that we’ve been able to keep her name and memory alive in helping other families that were in our situation at the Ronald McDonald house,” McBride said
McBride, director of the New Hyde Park Funeral Home, first thought of memorializing his daughter while attending a seminar on special honorary events at a conference in Arizona two years ago. He sought the assistance of Tom Biggers, president of the New York Road Runners Club, who ultimately helped McBride plan the event.
This year, there are a few new aspects to the event. Participants will be treated to free beer and pasta at the New Hyde Park Elks Lodge at 901 Lakeville Road in New Hyde Park on Saturday, June 23, from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., where they can also pick up badges and complimentary bag of goodies. The pre-race event will include a raffle with two 34-inch TVs among the prizes.
The event raised $14,000 for the Ronald McDonald House last year. McBride said 500 runners and walkers had pre-registered for the event this year.
The 5K race kicks off in front of the New Hyde Park Funeral Home at 506 Lakeville Road in New Hyde Park at 9:30 a.m. on and walkers start off at 9:35, but this year the race will finish in New Hyde Park Memorial Park rather than back at the funeral home.
Parking for those who want to catch the start of the race is available one block south of the funeral home across from the Hillside Public Library. A trolley will carry anyone who needs transportation from the funeral home to Memorial Park.
The post-race Children’s Fun Run, started by Ronald McDonald himself, will be held in the park after the 5K and 2K have finished at approximately 10:30 a.m.
Memorial Park will also be the location for the post-race barbecue. Food will be donated by the Inn at New Hyde Park as in the past two years and members of the New Hyde Park Fire Department will be manning the grills.
Entertainment will be provided by a D.J. preceding the awards ceremony for the top three male and female finishers, and the top finishers in several different age categories, as well as the fun run winners.
“Katie’s Run has become synonymous with New Hyde Park and we’re proud of that,” said McBride, who added that he’s pleased the event has gained a good reputation among New York metro runners.
Along with the Inn at New Hyde Park and the New Hyde Park Fire Department, sponsors for the race include Hall’s Carpeting, which is providing the chairs, table and tents for the barbecue in the park, and Valley National Bank.
“We’ve been able to bring a close community even closer through this event,” McBride said.
More information about the event, and Katie’s story, is available online at www.katiesrun.com
