Participants from 4 to 87 years old crossed the finish line at the Katy's Courage 5K on Saturday in Sag Harbor, where the 1,100 runners and walkers helped raise $30,000.
Proceeds from the second annual event — in memory of Pierson student Katy Stewart, who died in 2010 at the age of 12 after battling a rare form of liver cancer — will benefit education, children’s bereavement counseling and pediatric cancer research as well as a scholarship for and high school students.
“We relish the opportunity to bring the community together with the aim of creating possibilities for children,” said Brigid Collins, the mother of Katy Stewart.
One aim of Katy's Courage, a not-for-profit, is to establish the first East End childhood bereavement center.
Collins expressed thanks to the local businesses that pitched in, as well as 50 volunteers. “Our family would like to thank you with every fiber of our being for the countless ways the community has reached out and given so much to help us achieve our dream,” she said.
According to a statement on behalf of Katy's Courage, , owned by Mimi Yardley and Margaret Brooks, donated baked goods including ladybug cookies resembling the Katy’s Courage “Katybug” logo. Hamptons Water Company, which donates part of its proceeds to fight pediatric cancer, donated all the water for the race and provided bagels and cream cheese. Founding sponsors , and donated T-shirts and fruit.
For further information about Katy’s Courage, visit www.katyscourage.org. Donations may be sent by check to P.O. Box 3251, Sag Harbor, NY 11963. Like Katy’s Courage on Facebook at www.facebook.com/katyscourage and follow on Twitter at www.twitter.com/katyscourage.
