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Runners can hit road for good causes Runners sometimes turn to the road for simple reasons – to clear their minds, and, at other times, to heal after a loss. Two local families have turned sudden tragedy into tribute by honoring loved ones with memorial runs. The Devlin family of Washingtonville created the Dennis Devlin Memorial 5K Run/Walk. Devlin, an FDNY firefighter in Manhattan – and also a runner, competing in high school and into adulthood – died on 9/11 in the line of duty at the World Trade Center. Bill Donlon, an FDNY lieutenant and close friend of the Devlin family, presents the race-day awards. "The race has the feeling of family and remembrance of Devlin. Everyone becomes part of the family at this race," Donlon said. Race proceeds are divided between two Washingtonville High School students – winners of an essay contest – and the New York Firefighters Burn Center Foundation. Eugene Meehan, also a New York City fireman and friend of Devlin, attends the race every May. This year, he brought his sister, Janine Lynch, who recalled the race T-shirt: "On the back it said, 'No ordinary man.' I didn't even know this man, and he seems as special as Damian.' " Damian Meehan, Lynch's brother, also died on 9/11 while working on the 92nd floor of the World Trade Center. Since a young age, Meehan played sports, and a few years before his death he began competing in local races with his six brothers and other sister, Kitty. "We were so filled with grief that my dad said, 'we have to do something positive,' " Lynch said. And so the Damian Meehan Memorial 5K Cross Country Run and Walk was born in 2002 at Monroe-Woodbury High School. Usually held the Sunday after Labor Day, this year's race was held on Saturday to keep Sunday, Sept. 11 a day of reflection. Since 2002, almost $20,000 annually has been awarded to students in various schools, including Monroe-Woodbury High School. "The scholarships are given to kids who volunteer, are athletic and get good grades; kids that are out there and helping others," Lynch said. The Web site www.damianmeehan.org includes scholarship, race and family information, with a recently added page –"Remembering Michael J. Meehan." At age 69, Damian's father died in August, after a year-long battle with lung cancer. Upcoming memorial races The inaugural Mike Purcell Memorial 5K Run and two-mile Walk will be held at 1 p.m. Nov. 6 at Valley Central High School. Purcell, a Washingtonville Middle School physical education teacher and baseball coach for various area teams, died of pancreatic cancer in June. Race proceeds benefit the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network for the research, treatment, prevention and early detection of pancreatic cancer. The 23rd annual Rockland Alumni Cross Country/Bill Markiewicz Memorial Run will be held at noon Nov. 29 at Bear Mountain State Park . Markiewicz, a math teacher and coach at Clarkstown North High School, died in 1991 at age 41 from cancer. The race was renamed in 1991 in his memory. The event is free, so there are no proceeds, but The Bill Markiewicz Award is given annually to the leading contributor to Rockland County cross country running. Tara Pipia's running column appears Wednesday. Contact her at tpipia@th-record.com. |
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