512 runners turned up at Eisenhower Park on Thursday evening, June 3 for the 8th annual edition of the David Lerner Associates Long Island Police Appreciation Run to help say "thank you" to the men and women who make up our local police forces. Everyone was a winner in a race that raises funds for police officers and their families in times of emergency, and lots of runners from Farmingdale and the Massapequas were on hand to do their share.

Award winners from the local area included Colleen Kenny of Massapequa, who was the third woman finisher overall and 1st woman in the 25-29 age group in 20 minutes, 11 seconds, John Lutz of Massapequa Park, 2nd in the 55-59 age group in 23:44, Jean Tinnelly of Massapequa Park, 2nd woman in the 15-19 age group in 21:15, and Jennifer Campbell of Farmingdale, 3rd woman in the 15-19 age group in 22:16.

Other top area finishers included Ray Birney of Massapequa Park (19:38), Michael Gangarossa of Farmingdale (20:45), Thomas Gaffney of Massapequa Park (22:15), Jerry Ahern of Farmingdale (22:46), Rich Shaw of Massapequa (23:14), Matthew Goodman of Massapequa (23:55), Tom Willding of Massapequa (25:30), Sean Ruane of Farmingdale (26:00), Steve Kinney of Farmingdale (26:07), Dorothy Gaffney of Massapequa Park (26:28), Sherry Bellovin of North Massapequa (26:50), Regina DeGregorio of Massapequa Park (27:25), Brian Krebs of Massapequa (30:11), Howard Kestenbaum of Massapequa Park (30:46), Dana Judge of North Massapequa (34:07), Ellen Shapiro of Farmingdale (34:13), and Laura Ahern of Farmingdale (35:52).

The Run was sponsored by the Syosset-based firm of David Lerner Associates ("The Asset Builders"), and administered by the Greater Long Island Running Club, Long Island's largest running Club. GLIRC's Ira Eskow served as the race director once again, and David Katz of Finish Line Road Race Technicians was the technical director.

This is an event in which everyone is a winner. The entire net proceeds go to a special fund that helps local law enforcement officers and their families in times of personal emergency. In the past year alone, the fund distributed a total of $7500 to the families of three officers - families who truly needed - and deserved - the help of their fellow citizens.

"We are thrilled with the turnout for this year's Police Appreciation Run," observed Race Director Ira Eskow, "and are really pleased that so many good folks from Farmingdale and the Massapequas - and all over Nassau and Suffolk Counties - so strongly supported the Run once again this year."