The winds and rain from Tropical Strom Ernesto couldn't keep close to 300 participants from participating in the 2nd Annual Main Street Mile in Farmingdale on Sept. 2. The spirit of all the participants was in no way dampened by the weather as exemplified with this great turnout, the event was presented by Bob Cook, owner of the Runners Edge on Main Street in Farmingdale, who was co-race director. Proceeds from the Main Street Mile supports Companions in Courage Foundation, founded by former NY Islander and Hockey Hall of Famer Pat LaFontaine, who was in attendance and participated in the event.

In the women's division, Megan Holden of Sound Beach won overall in a time of 5:00 flat, followed up by Jen Campbell of Levittown in a time of 5:04, and Zofia Wieciorkowska of Stratford, Conn. in a time of 5:07.

Proceeds from the race will go toward LaFontaine's non-profit organization Companions in Courage (CiC). CiC's immediate goal is to raise funds to build interactive playrooms in children's hospitals throughout North America. Through innovative communications tools, these playrooms are meant to replace the isolation of a hospital with a connection to family, friends and celebrities during their hospital stay. This effort paves the way for their motto "no child in the fight for life or health should ever have to go it alone."

The rooms, dubbed the Lion's Den, have state of the art technology from Cisco Systems, and Microsoft. Patients receive a "smart" card when they check into the hospital, identifying them as members of a special community with unique privileges. The key is an ID device that allows each child to personalize their experience within the Lion's Den room with activities such as web surfing, video game playing and videoconferencing. A new Lion's Den interactive playroom will be opening at Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital at Columbia Presbyterian in October; the proceeds raised will go toward that effort. The total amount raised was $6,500 for this great cause.

Local dignitaries were on hand for the day's festivities, which culminated at the Nutty Irishman on Main Street, who were gracious enough to host the awards on short notice given the inclement weather, with Pat LaFontaine presenting the awards. Legislator David Mejias presented LaFontaine with a citation acknowledging the great work done for children with Companions in Courage. Nassau County Parks Commissioner Jose Lopez was also in attendance.

Ed Flynn, North Fork Bank vice president was present. "We are very pleased to be part of this event, supporting such a great cause and all the great work done by Pat LaFontaine and Companions in Courage," he said. "We look forward to seeing the Lion's Den open at Columbia Presbyterian Hospital."

Mark Leff of Cisco Systems in Melville, was greatly involved in publicizing the event as co-race director.

"We can't thank everyone enough for braving the weather to support all the great work benefiting children that Pat does," Leff stated. "It is also a pleasure to work with Bob Cook and the Runners Edge, and to thank North Fork Bank for all their generosity, two great class acts helping to support the community. We also look forward to the opening of the Lion's Den at Columbia Presbyterian, the result of the great work CiC does."