Riverhead runs to remember — and to raise scholarship funds for students

Some 250 people participated in the First Annual Riverhead Run to Remember 5K Run/Walk yesterday, an event organized by Riverhead Central School District administrators to remember students and colleagues who’ve passed and at the same time raise money to fund scholarships for local students.

“Amazing,” was how Riverhead High School principal Charles Regan characterized the turnout for the footrace that took runners from the district’s main campus in a 5K loop through local neighborhood streets.

Regan noted that the event was a rather last-minute enterprise, put together, he said, in six or seven weeks’ time.

Riverhead Middle School principal Andrea Pekar said high school assistant principal Patrick Burke sent an email out to administrators in the district and everyone immediately got on board.

“I’d like to see this double in size next year,” Regan said. “I believe we can do it. We got tremendous support from the community. Everyone we asked, readily gave. No one told us no,” he said.

“We had a wonderful crowd turn out for a great cause,” Pekar said. “We’re looking forward to raising funds to add more scholarships for local students.”

Winners in yesterday’s 5K:

Men
1: Luke Coulter, 16, Riverhead – 16:53.2
2: Anthony Galvin, 21, Riverhead – 17:49.4
3: Michael Harris, 17, Speonk – 18:03.5

Women
1: Cheryl Regan, 39, Quogue – 20:30.2
2: Gabriella Marcucci, 15, Riverhead – 20:36.2
3: Sarah Governale, 22, Wading River – 20:53.7

RiverheadLOCAL photos by Peter Blasl