The Long Island running community celebrated Father's Day in tremendous fashion on Sunday, June 18 this year, as a race record of 558 runners and walkers successfully completed the 3rd annual Vytra Health Plans Kids Helping Kids 5 Kilometer Run, and more than a hundred youngsters ran in either the 1/4 mile or the 1/2 mile fun runs that preceded the main event.

Farmingdale speedster Donna McMahon finished as the first woman runner overall in the run, crossing the finish line at the Plainview-Old Bethpage Middle School in 18 minutes, 16 seconds, 17 seconds ahead of runner-up Jean Coleman of Wantagh.

Other local runners winning awards in the Kids Helping Kids Run included 8-year-old John Auletta, Jr. of Massapequa Park, who was the third finisher in the 8 and under age group, Tia Wofford of Farmingdale, who took top honors in the women's 12-14 age group, Arlene Malkin of Massapequa, 2nd place finisher in the women's 25-29 age group, Cathy Lembo of Farmingdale, 3rd woman in the 30-34 age group, Sherry Belklovin of Massapequa, who scored third in the women's 50-54 age group, and Margarita Hernandez, who took second place honors in the women's 60-64 age group.

The entire event was conducted under the auspices of Kids Helping Kids and its President Robert Eslick of Old Bethpage, for the benefit of the children-oriented charities that Kids Helping Kids supports, and was once again dedicated to the memory of local youngster Michael Jason Eichenbaum. The race was administered by the Greater Long Island Running Club, with technical direction provided by Finish Line Road Race Technicians.

The key financial supporter of the Kids Helping Kids Run was Vytra Health Plans once again this year, and Vytra's Melissa Schuchman was on hand to participate in the festivities. Other key support was provided by the Woodbury Country Deli (whose generosity enabled youngsters age 12 and under to run sponsor free), North Fork Bank, and Kenwal Day Camp. Oyster Bay Town Councilman Len Symons of Plainview was also on hand to lend his support to this great event.

This was indeed a superb day for the Long Island running community, the heart and soul of the Kids Helping Kids organization. As young Robert A.J. Eslick put it, the Kids Helping Kids Run is "not just another old race but an event put on by kids to support kids in need."