The sky was blue, the weather warm and enthusiasm high as more than 150 runners and walkers participated in the 10th Annual Tom Zangas Memorial Lung Cancer Foundation/Archangel Michael Church 5K/Run, 1K/Walk on Saturday, Oct. 28. The race raised more than $60,000 for the foundation and church.
Age prevailed this year with 52-year-old Robert Rossen, of New York, finishing first in at time of 22:35. The third-place finisher and first woman was Sandi Cooper, 64, of New York, who finished in 23:44. Second overall was James Castaldo, 47, of Merrick, just three seconds ahead of Cooper. Laura Derose, 42, of Great Neck, finished fourth with the same time as Cooper.
While runners were pushing for a good time, walkers were pushing baby strollers and giving their dogs exercise in the family-friendly, fun-filled event held for the third year at North Hempstead Beach Park in Port Washington.
The Tom Zangas Memorial Lung Cancer Foundation was founded by Tom’s parents, Leonard and Penelope Zangas, of Manhasset, to honor Tom’s memory and raise funds to fight lung cancer. Tom was a triathlete and marathoner, who died from lung cancer at the age of 40. To date, the Tom Zangas Memorial Lung Cancer Foundation has contributed more than $370,000 for lung cancer research.
“Penny and I want to thank all those who participate in the race and those who support it,” Leonard Zangas said before the race. “Tom would be very excited about the turnout and the contributions being made to fight lung cancer. Each year we feel an increase in excitement and the community coming together for the event.”
Through the years the foundation has contributed to lung cancer research at such institutions as Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Yale University, NYU Langone Cancer Center, MIT and Weill Cornell Medical Center
For information about the foundation, visit the Foundation’s website at tomsinspiration.org or contact Leonard Zangas at 516-504-7000
