The New Hyde Park-Mineola Runners Club met at Flushing Bank’s New Hyde Park branch with manager Smitha Lukose-Khan and the Flushing Bank team, to receive their generous sponsorship and discuss plans for the New Hyde Park-Mineola Runners Club’s 42nd annual 8K race and community event on June 2 at the Denton Avenue Middle School in New Hyde Park.
The Flushing Bank team plans to participate in the run. The New Hyde Park branch is located at 661 Hillside Ave. The branch may be contacted at 516-488-6400 and their website is www.flushingbank.com.
The Runners Club is grateful for Flushing Bank’s sponsorship and assistance, which will help make the 42nd annual race and community event a success, without which it would not be nearly as successful.
The Runners Club is a non-profit organization of volunteers dedicated to improving their community, and organizes the U.S.A. Track & Field Long Island Division’s annual 8K Championship, which has individual and team scoring for USA T&F members. Sponsorship monies support the annual race event, as well as charity based community organizations.
The Runners main charity is the Nassau County Firefighter Operation Wounded Warrior program — that provides benefits above what the military and VA offers to wounded soldiers and veterans throughout Long Island, and at Walter Reid, Camp Lajune, and Fort Bragg. This exceptional program is run by volunteer firefighters and participating departments throughout the County. In December the program delivered 60 IPads, 10 PCs, and two packed U-Hauls to these military bases.
Computer pads are critical for doctors and specialists to upload health information, so as to be portable for soldiers who frequently move locations—patient history, prescriptions, treatment, appointments, therapy and medication schedules. This year the Runners donated $4000 to this vital organization, approximately $40,000 to date. To learn more about the firefighter program and how you can help, contact the program’s president, Joe O’Grady, at 516-462-4617.
The Runners Club supports local Boy Scout Troops 298 and 544. Scouts who volunteer at the race receive credit for community service, and the club donates proceeds to their troops. The club also supports para- and special needs athletes — the club is working to fund a greater program to allow more para athletes to participate and compete, at no fee, or a reduced fee.
In 2018 the Town of North Hempstead recognized the New Hyde Park-Mineola Running Club as an outstanding organization for its dedication to Long Island racing and community service.
For information on how to become a sponsor, volunteer, and to learn about the Runners Club, contact Harold Axelrod at bcshja@msn.com or Stephen Cipot at Stephenjcipot@hotmail.com. Visit the Runners Club’s website at www.newhydeparkrunners.com.
