Once again this year, the Greater Long Island Running Club is joining forces with Integrated Medical Foundation, the New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) and the Elmont Chamber of Commerce to stage the fourth annual Belmont Stakes 5K Blue Ribbon Run for Prostate Cancer. The run will be held on Sunday, May 31, at Belmont Park, with NYRA’s Sam Grossman (“Sam the Bugler”) calling everyone to the post at 7:15 a.m.
The run will be the prelude to the 147th running of the Belmont Stakes six days later. The runners and walkers will traverse a USA Track & Field certified 5-kilometer course entirely within the grounds of Belmont Park, leading up to an exiting finish at the race track finish line that witnessed the Belmont Stakes triumphs of Secretariat, Seattle Slew and Affirmed.
Everyone who enters will receive a top quality shirt to commemorate the occasion. “Win, place and show” awards will be presented to the top male and female overall and masters finishers, as well as the top men and women finishers in each of 17 age groups from 12 and under through 85 plus.
Johnny Velazquez, the winner of eight Breeder’s Cup races, will serve as the Grand Marshall of the event once again.
Following the 5K run, all registered runners and walkers are invited to an eclectic post-race spread of goodies in the Belmont Grandstand, including some great refreshments courtesy of All Round Foods, Panera’s, Woodbury Country Deli, King Umberto Restaurant, Sapienza Bake Shop, D’Anna’s Pizza, A&S Bagels, Jani, Talk of the Town Deli, Stop 20 Diner, La Baguette Bakery and Dunkin Donuts.
The entire net proceeds of this year’s run will benefit the Integrated Medical Foundation (“Working together for Better Men’s Health and to fight prostate cancer”), and its mission to promote awareness and early detection of prostate cancer as well as support services.
“The Belmont Stakes is thoroughbred racing’s premiere race, and the truest test of champions,” said Joanie Omeste, NYRA’s community relations manager. “The Belmont Stakes 5K has attracted over 500 finishers in each of our first three years, and we have every expectation of increasing that number dramatically in 2015. This will be a real test for all of the champion runners as they make their way to the Belmont Park finish line.”
Integrated Medical Foundation (IMF) Executive Director Rhonda Samuel was equally enthusiastic about presenting the event, and how it will be a major plus for prostate cancer awareness and early detection.
“We are thrilled to be staging this fourth annual edition of this exciting event at Belmont Park, and we are hopeful that it will help us reach our goal of raising funds to fight prostate cancer through advocacy, awareness, and screenings,” said Samuel. “Early detection saves lives.”
IMF has announced that Advanced Radiation Centers of new York, Advanced Urology Centers of New York, Abbvie and Wet Brush will be among th key sponsors of this year’s Belmont Stakes Blue Ribbon Run for Prostate Cancer.
Sponsorship opportunities are still available at every level, and this is an unmatched opportunity for your business to play a major role in the continuing fight against prostate cancer at the same time as it gets the kind of publicity that only a unique event like this one can engender. Call Rhonda Samuel at 631-247-200 for more information or go to www.IMFcares.org.
Mark your calendar now for Sunday evening, May 31. You can register online or download hard copy entry forms at www.glirc.org. For more information, call the greater Long island running Club office at 516-349-7646. To volunteer, contact Mindy at 516-359-9409 or mindyruns@aol.com.
