Marcie Mazzola 5K Set For Sunday

Photo courtesy of Nancy Mazzola
Last year, the Marcie Mazzola Memorial 5K Walk/Run raised approximately $30,000 for Huntington YMCA’s Summer Camp Scholarship program, with this year’s goal to raise more than $40,000.

By Janee Law

jlaw@longislandergroup.com

The Huntington community is continuing to keep the memory of Marcie Mazzola alive through the annual Marcie Mazzola Memorial 5K Walk/Run, which is set to kick off from the Huntington YMCA at 8:30 a.m., Sunday.

The 11th annual event, which will leave from 60 Main St., Huntington, will see runners tread through the streets of Huntington and around Heckscher Park. At the same time, the non-competitive Kids Fun Run will be held on the grounds of the YMCA for ages 10 and under.

The foundation was named after Marcie Mazzola, a 21-year-old from Commack, who was involved in a civil lawsuit before she died in a car accident in 2002. The lawsuit was against a school bus driver who was accused of sexually abusing her when she was 11 years old. Even with Marcie no longer able to testify, her family and attorney pressed on and eventually won the case.

The foundation was created in 2003 with the mission to “help better the lives of abused and at risk children and increase advocacy and community awareness about the needs of children,” Nancy Mazzola, Marcie’s step-mother and foundation president, said.

She added that proceeds for the race, which had around 250 people signed up as of Monday, will benefit the Huntington YMCA’s Summer Camp Scholarship program.

“It’s important to host this event so that we can continue help as many children as possible go to summer camp,” she said. “The ‘Y’ offers an incredible summer camp experience where the children have a great time plus they are safe. That’s been our goal is to continue to send more children each year.”

Last year, Mazzola said, the foundation raised $30,000 for the program. This year’s goals are to raise more than $40,000 and have a “larger than ever turn out.”

Mazzola added that “Marcie was very compassionate and wanted to help children however she could. This is really close to our hearts that we can continue doing this in her name.”

Participants who have already registered can pick up their packets, which include bib, chip and t-shirts, on Saturday, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. from the Huntington YMCA.

Late and race day entrée fees are $30 for the 5K Run/Walk and $10 for the Kids Fun Run. Students in 12th grade and under can receive discount and pay $20 for the 5K Run/Walk.

Race check-in time on Sunday is 6:45-8 a.m. at the Huntington YMCA. No numbers will be issued after 8 a.m.