Cuthbertson and Cergol hold 2nd Annual 5k Run to Save Lives
Saturday April 6, 2019
Building on the success of last year’s inaugural event, Huntington Council Members Mark Cuthbertson and Joan Cergol are expecting an even larger turnout as the 2nd Annual 5k Run to Save Lives kicks off from Oldfield Middle School on Saturday, April 6 with an exciting new addition to the race- the Fastest Mile, run your fastest mile from mile 2.1-3.1.
The run, which kicks off at 8:15 a.m. from the school and winds its way through the picturesque streets of Greenlawn, helps highlight the critical need for organ and tissue donors, especially in New York State, which ranks last in the United States in registered donors. While many people in our community have been given a second chance at life because of organ donation, every 18 hours a New Yorker dies waiting for a lifesaving transplant.
The inaugural race last year included runners who had received a variety of organ transplants – powerfully demonstrating how organ donation can transform lives -- as well as members of the running community committed to the cause. This year, the run has partnered with Elitefeats to attract an even larger turnout.
Council Members Cuthbertson and Cergol both have first-hand knowledge that transplants save lives. Councilman Cuthbertson’s son Hunter, received a bone marrow transplant from his brother, Aidan, in 2017, after being diagnosed with aplastic anemia, a year after he graduated from Harborfields High School. That Aidan was able to be Hunter’s donor was unusual: only 25 percent of siblings are a match; the other 75 percent needing transplants have to rely on donations from strangers to save lives.
“My son Hunter was lucky because his brother Aidan was a match, but I think of all the other people waiting for transplants who are not as fortunate,” Councilman Cuthbertson said. “We need to make people aware that they have the ability to make a difference simply with a simple cheek swab or checking a box on their driver’s license application. In raising everybody’s consciousness, this run truly saves lives.”
That was the case for Christian Siems, the son of a close friend of Councilwoman Cergol’s. Christian was told by doctors at the end of his senior year at Harborfields High School in 2012 that he needed a new heart to survive. It took almost two years for a donor to be found; Nicolas P. Brown a U.S. Marine who died of a heroin overdose whose transplanted organs saved Christian’s life and the lives of four others.
“My son Hunter was lucky because his brother Aidan was a match, but I think of all the other people waiting for transplants who are not as fortunate,” Councilman Cuthbertson said. “We need to make people aware that they have the ability to make a difference simply by checking a box on their driver’s license application. In raising everybody’s consciousness, this run truly saves lives.”
Councilwoman Cergol said, “Every time I see Christian or speak with his mother, I think about how their lives have been positively affected by the selflessness of an organ donor. We need to let people know how they can make a difference for transplant recipients and their families.”
All proceeds from the race will go to LiveOnNY to promote and educate about the importance of Organ Donation, Be the Match who manages the largest and most diverse marrow registry in the world saving lives through transplant and Team Liberty which is comprised of transplant recipients, donor families, living donors and transplant professionals from the tristate area. The members of Team Liberty participate and volunteer in local events all year round, and attend the Donate Life Transplant Games.
Click HERE to register for the race.