Great day, great fun, great cause at Lions 5K

Nearly 700 finishers Warwick — There is something really special about the annual Labor Day 5K here in Warwick. For one thing, it is truly a community event. Kids, parents, young children and senior citizens come out to run and walk the 3.1 mile course year after year, making it an end-of-summer tradition. The energy is incredible as the group leaves from the starting line on West Street Extension, just before the Middle School and then individually the runners and walkers return to the music blaring and the encouragement of those who have already finished. Joseph Ekuon was the first to finish with a time of 15:19, followed by Harun Koinange at 15:33. Warwick High School runner Brad Ackerman, 17, finished third with a time of 15:56. On the women’s side, it was Tori Pennings for the second year in a row. Pennings, 17 and a student at Warwick Valley High School, was the first woman to cross the finish line with a time of 17:35, bettering her winning time from last year of 18:01. She was followed by 15-year-old Lillian Greibesland with a time of 18:15. But the 5K is much more than running. For 15 years it was known as the Lions Labor Day 5K until this year when it was officially renamed the Carol McManus Memorial 5K presented by the Warwick Lions Club. McManus was the race director, with her husband, George, for 14 years, before losing a courageous fight to pancreatic cancer in April 2006. This year George asked for voluntary contributions to the Carol McManus Memorial Fund for Cancer Research. Thirteen-year-old Deirdre Davis and her 11-year-old brother, Connor, decided to answer that call. The two, who are avid runners and 5K regulars just like their parents, Grace and Mike, decided to go a step beyond making a donation on their own. The siblings wrote letters to about 20 family members and friends, asking for any donation they would like to give — large or small, it didn’t matter. “We’ve lost a lot of family members to cancer,” said Deirdre, “and we want to do something to help find a cure.” She and Connor typed a letter and sent it to those friends and family who weren’t running the race. They asked if they would help them raise $100 to donate to the fund. The response was overwhelming. The donations started to trickle in, then they poured in. In all, the Davis kids raised $550 for the Carol McManus Memorial Fund for Cancer Research. “It felt amazing. We were so excited,” said Deirdre, when they turned the check over to George McManus, the race director. “I am so proud of them,” said their mom, Grace. “And we are truly thankful to everyone who responded.” The responses came not just in the form of money, but with heartfelt letters as well. “They received beautiful letters along with the checks,” said Grace. “Many had notes in them that were very inspirational, telling of their personal battles with cancer.” Deirdre and Connor lost three of their grandparents to cancer, including their maternal grandma who died of breast cancer before they were born. Both of their paternal grandparents died from cancer as well. The race itself benefits the Lions Quest Program, a program in schools throughout the nation, including Warwick, that emphasizes positive prevention, character education and life skills, and enhanced academic performance through social and emotional learning. In all, 697 runners and walkers finished the race on Monday, some bettering their times, others just happy to finish.