Run to Be Held Thursday, June 11 at Eisenhower Park
Runners, walkers and wheelchair athletes from Hicksville and nearby communities are invited to join the investment firm of David Lerner Associates and the Greater Long Island Running Club for the 18th annual David Lerner Associates Long Island Police Appreciation Run, to be held on Thursday evening, June 11 at Eisenhower Park.
The entire net proceeds of the run will once again be turned over to the special Police Crisis Fund that has been established to aid Nassau and Suffolk County law enforcement officers and their families in time of emergency. In the eighteen years of its existence, the fund has distributed over $250,000 to local police officers and their families. In 2008, the fund was privileged to be able to make a $25,000 donation to Nassau County Police Officer Kevin Baribault, who suffered multiple injuries when he was struck by a drunk driver’s vehicle on the Long Island Expressway. Thanks to David Lerner Associates and the Long Island Running Community, the money was there to help Officer Baribault and his family in their time of need.
Ira Eskow of the host Greater Long Island Running Club (GLIRC) will be donating his time and effort to serve as the Race Director once again.
The entry fee for the Run is $20 for those who enter in advance; $17 for GLIRC members; and $25 for those who enter on the day of the run. All youngsters of high school age and younger who pre-register are entitled to take a 50 percent discount off their entry fee. All entrants will receive special 18th anniversary commemorative baseball caps.
Awards will be presented to the top three male runners and the top three female runners in each of 14 (five year) age groups, ranging from 14 and under to 80 and over, as well as to the top wheelchair racers. Special awards will also be presented in the “Law Enforcement” Division to the top three open male, open female, masters (age 40 and over) male and masters female law enforcement officers to cross the finish line.
Race organizers are hoping for the biggest ever turnout of local runners to show their appreciation for the police – and to provide much-needed funding for the Police Crisis Fund. “Runners have a special reason for saying thank you to our law enforcement officers,” said Race Director Ira Eskow. “Without the enthusiastic support of County and local police departments, road racing as we know it in Nassau and Suffolk Counties could simply not exist! But whether you are a runner or not, everyone owes a tremendous debt to the outstanding men and women who make up Long Island’s police forces. They truly are ‘Long Island’s Finest,’ and we join with the generous folks at David Lerner Associates in looking for a big outpouring of people from all over the New York Metropolitan area on June 11 to show them just how much they are appreciated.”
The 2009 David Lerner Associates Police Appreciation Run is part of the USA Track & Field Long Island Association’s Grand Prix of Long Island road races. GLIRC is once again joining forces with the Downey family to provide special “Bravest/Finest” Awards to the Open and Masters Male and Female runners with the fastest combined times in our David Lerner Associates Police Appreciation 5K Run on June 11 and the Deputy Chief Raymond Downey “Forever Running” Memorial 5K Run in Deer Park on June 21.
Call 349-7646 for entry forms or more information, or register online at www.glirc.org.
