Inaugural Bill Fortune Memorial Run Benefits Meals On Wheels

Over 300 runners challenged the course at Rockland Lake State Park in Congers to support Meals On Wheels in the First Bill Fortune Memorial Run on Sunday, May 22. 10K and 5K competitions along with a 5K walk were held under the auspices of the Rockland Road Runners.

Here are the winners for each:

10K

• Christopher O’Brien, 17, of Orangeburg with a time of 40:18
• Suzanne LaBurt of Greenwood Lake with a time of 41:55

5K

• Chris Pusey of Staten Island with a time of 17:41
• Kelly Thompson of Valhalla with a time of 19:39

Full Results are attached to this article.

Lynn Jacobs a Development Associate at Meals On Wheels noted that Fortune was “a beloved member of the Rockland Road Runners who lived in Pearl River and died last year.”

“$5000 was raised from sponsors for the first year of this event and I want to make sure to thank the members of the Board and staff that have volunteered to help out today,” said Jacobs

Jacobs pointed out that all funds raised will be employed in the three main services that Meals On Wheels provides:

• Approximately 500 meals a day to homebound shut ins
• Services to seniors at the organization’s five senior centers in Rockland County
• Adult daycare centers tor people suffering from Alzheimer’s Disease and other disabilities

Barbara Kohlhausen, the president and CEO of Meals On Wheels wanted “to thank the Road Runners and race director Amy Stern."

"This is a gift," she said. "It is the first time that we are doing this run and this is a year that we really need to make up for the budget cuts that a lot of county agencies have suffered.”

Stern is a longtime member of the Road Runners and executive director of United Hospice of Rockland remembered Fortune as “an outstanding runner and mentor.”  And she was very pleased that we have “over 300 runners and 100 walkers today.”

A number of Fortune’s family members were in attendance including daughters Christine Fortune and Mary Scanlon and n niece Dorothy Jetter.  Friends Jesse Hackell and Becky Thurn were also on hand.

“Things have been great today," said Thurn. "It has worked out well. We ran out of towels. Bill would have been proud.” 

“All of this is very meaningful to us,” said Hackell.

A sampling of the runners indicated that this was not just a local event.  Juan Martinez of Yonkers thought that it was a “great day for a good race and fun to run” while Sherrie Lombardo of Poughkeepsie said “I run for fun. I came with friends.”

“I am getting into running and I used to live in New City," said Tony Caldiero of Wappinger’s Falls.

Tim Donaghy of Mahopac may have summed it up for many of the runners when he added, “This is something fun to do on a Sunday.”

Local participants included Rafael Caniza of Piermont who ran to “benefit Meals On Wheels and because I am a somewhat serious runner.” 

"I love the lake and I love the Road Runners," said For Ann Hunt of Tappan, "And this is a great cause.”