Memorial Race Draws Crowd

April 23, 2009

 Marcie, a 1999 Commack High School graduate, had just turned 21 when she was killed in a car accident in 2002. The family established the Marcie Mazzola Foundation a year later to raise funds for children's causes, Marcie's father, Paul, said. The foundation, which was honored with a proclamation from the Huntington Town Council, has raised more than $200,000 for organizations, including EAC's Suffolk County Child Advocacy Center, the Smile Train, the Victims Information Bureau of Suffolk County, the Coalition Against Child Abuse and Neglect, the New York Organ Donor Network, to name a few.

The day's events kicked off with a noncompetitive 1K run in which 25 local children participated, with Marcie's goddaughter, Kristina Mazzola, leading the way. Rachel Evans, 11, of Huntington, was the first to cross the finish line.

About 300 runners literally raced the wind to complete the four mile run/walk.

Todd Rowley, 39, of Huntington, won the race, doing his hometown proud with a time of 23:26. Rowley, who said that he has always loved Huntington and moved there from Oyster Bay in 1993, ran in the Doug Wood Race a week before and came in second. In the first annual Marcie Mazzola race, he came in third place. "I like the cause," he said.

"I feel honored to run in a race which honors such a special girl."

He was happy to hear Assemblyman James Conte (R-Huntington Station) who is himself a two-time kidney transplant recipient, announce the passage of a resolution making April 19 Marcie Mazzola Organ Donor Awareness Day in New York. "It made me feel good to be part of the race," Rowley said.

Huntington residents David Borg, 26, and Rich Delasota, 50, placed second and third with times of 23:57 and 24:01 respectively. "It is a great race," said Borg who came in third last year.

The first woman to cross the finish line, Christine Williams, 25, of Bay Shore, had a time of 26:48. Like Rowley, she was fresh from an impressive recent win.

The day before Easter, Williams completed against more than 600 runners and came in third in the Mt. Penn Mudfest, a 15K trail run through the mountains of Reading, Pa.

Jill Skelly, 45, of Baldwin, at 27:53, was the second woman to cross the finish line; Gina Franceschini, 27, of Huntington, came in third with a time of 27:57.

Jim LaMantia, co-owner of Northport's LaMantia Gallery, said he was inspired to participate after he heard Marcie's stepmother, Nancy, speak at a Rotary meeting.

The 45-year-old entrepreneur from Kings Park proudly bore the number 113 over his Rotary regalia, and crossed the finish line with a respectable time of 40:06.

"I did it, and I feel good," LaMantia said, adding that he hopes to run in as many charitable races as possible and will participate again next year.

According to Nancy, the youngest runner to complete the race was Grant Faber, 4, of Smithtown, with a time of 45:11. Trailing only slightly behind, at 50:00, was the oldest racer, Howard Kestenbaum, 77, of Massapequa Park, who was one of many participants in their 70s.

Onlookers were also inspired by the performance of members of Rolling Thunder, who traversed the course via special wheelchairs made for road races which they propel with their arms. Adam Cruz, 14, of Brentwood, who said that he had been practicing three days a week, crossed the finish line first and received a medal for his time of 21:55.

The volunteers, which have made the event a tradition in Huntington, included Brownie Troop 852 of Huntington, Commack and Cold Spring Harbor high school students, and Boy Scout Troop 174 of East Northport.

Tables manned by volunteers from the New York Blood Drive and New York Organ Donor Network helped raise awareness as did the presence of John Acquaro, a Ronkonkoma heart transplant recipient who finished the race with a time of 55:44. Acquaro said that before his transplant two years ago, he couldn't walk 20 feet. "I feel great. It's a miracle," he said.

Rowley and Williams received trophies and YMCA memberships in recognition of their achievement. The more than $18,000 that was raised will enable needy children to attend Huntington YMCA's summer camp, Nancy Mazzola indicated.

Article by:Elise Pearlman

Photo by: Alan Pearlman