Thanks to the kindness of Mother Nature in providing Long Island with a great stretch of December weather, the 19th annual Carter, DeLuca, Farrell & Schmidt Ho Ho Ho Holiday Run, held on the roads of Bethpage on Dec. 16, was a tremendous success. There were 1,184 finishers in the 5K run and more than 50 youngsters in the 1/4 Mile Fun Run that preceded the main event.

The net result is that several local charities, including the "Bretton Bowl" fund for needy Bethpage families, the Maurer Foundation for Breast Health Education and the Tender Loving Care Foundation for premature infants, will each receive substantial contributions. In addition, the generous toy donations by the participants will allow many disadvantaged children to have a more festive holiday through the Greater Long Island Running Club's (GLIRC) partnership with Mercy First.

Congratulations to top overall finisher Sean Prinz and to Sandy Delgado, who scored as the first woman overall, a scant four seconds in front of top Masters female Karen Cotty.

The first Hicksville finishers were Liz Flahavan, who finished in 20:53, and Kevin Kremler, whose time of 20:54 earned him second place honors in the 55-59 age group.

Other Hicksville residents crossing the finish line included John Mulcahy (21:31), Matthew Zwielich (22:04), Bill Robeson (23:20), Robert Patterson (24:34), Gerard Ruiz (27:02), Anna Lau (27:36), Adriana Fitting (27:53), Walter Hoffman (28:52), Jessica Hoffman (28:55), Kevin Byrne (29:37), Patrick Santos (30:12), Vin Del Bagno (30:23), Carrie Zwielich (33:12), Harvey Brittman (34:12) and Eileen Reinhardt (42:51).

Special thanks go once again to title sponsor Carter, DeLuca, Farrell & Schmidt and to presenting sponsor Retail, Wholesale & Chain Store Food Employees Union, Local 338, for their generous contributions. Without sponsors it would be impossible to produce a race with this many participants and to maintain the high quality standards required to make the race a success. The GLIRC was especially pleased to have Ray Farrell, Dave Carter and several other staff members of Carter, DeLuca, Farrell & Schmidt along with Local 338 Funds Administrator Charlie Hamilton compete in the run.

Thanks as well to Whole Foods Market, Kozy Shack Pudding, and Shop Rite for the generous donations of fruit, puddings and soda that helped make the post-race refreshments so good.

Special thanks go to Race Directors Joe Sturgess and Bob Sherman, and to all the GLIRC volunteers who continuously and willingly donate their time. It is these volunteers that provide the needed efforts to ensure that everyone enjoys participating in a GLIRC event. Thanks also go to Nassau County Police and the Auxiliary Police for making the course safe for everyone. Also, John Snitko of JMS Racing Services is deserving of high praise for his thoroughly professional timing job.

One of the biggest "thank yous" goes to Superintendent of Schools Richard Marsh and the Bethpage School District for allowing the run to utilize the excellent facilities at Bethpage High School, to the enthusiastic and efficient custodial staff at the high school, and to Nassau County Legislator Ed Mangano and Bethpage Fire Commissioner Gary Bretton for facilitating the club's use of the high school.

The wonderful support provided by the Town of Oyster Bay and Supervisor John Venditto, who deserves commendation once again. The town continues to show its enthusiastic support for running and fitness programs by both words and deeds. Thanks as well to Town Councilmembers Rose Marie Walker and Joe Muscarella for being on hand on race day to support the event.