On Saturday, April 10, runners, wheelchair athletes, and race walkers from all over the New York Metropolitan area flocked to the local area to participate in the 23rd annual running of the prestigious Nationwide Insurance 10 Kilometer Run for ASPIRE, which is the first major race of the year in Nassau County.

Runners from Farmingdale and Massapequa did very well indeed. Farmingdale super-athlete Donna McMahon was the 2nd woman overall across the finish line, notwithstanding the injuries she suffered only two weeks previously as a result of being hit by a car while on her bicycle. Donna finished the 10 Kilometer course in a strong 37:34, good for top honors in the 30-34 age group.

Other local athletes winning ASPIRE 10K Awards included Dominick Lampasi of Massapequa Park, who was the 17th overall to finish and 3rd in the tough 35-39 age group, Geza Feld of Farmingdale, who earned top honors in the 65-69 age group, Colleen Kenny of Massapequa, 3rd in the women's 25-29 age group, and Laura Gluf of Massapequa, who scored second in the women's 30-34 age group. There were 764 finishers overall.

The Run was conducted under the auspices of the Greater Long island Running Club, with Craig Courounis and Bob Windorf serving as the co-directors of the run.

The primary sponsor the ASPIRE run was once again Nationwide Insurance, and Tony Wiszowaty of Nationwide was on hand to cheer the athletes on. Other key sponsors included Trader Joes, with Sal Cipolla, the assistant manager of Trader Joes' Plainview store on hand with his staff, The Runner's Edge of Farmingdale, Balance Bar, and Vytra Health Plans. Donna Howard, the Community Relations Director of Vytra Health Plans supervised the team that staffed the water station at the 1.5 mile mark on Haypath Road.

As always, the entire net proceeds of the run were turned over to the ASPIRE Program for the rehabilitation of young amputees, victims of bone cancer, birth defects and traumatic amputations. David Balsley, the chief executive officer of ASPIRE, was an enthusiastic participant in the Run. The Run was once again dedicated to the memory of Stanley Kramberg, the Nationwide Insurance Agent who was an enthusiastic runner, an active member of the Greater Long Island Running Club and a strong supporter of the ASPIRE Program. Stan lost his battle to brain cancer several years ago, but his name lives on through this Run and its support of the ASPIRE Program. A special scholarship has been set up in Stan's name to help young amputees from the ASPIRE Program continue their education.

This year's Nationwide Insurance Run for ASPIRE served as the 10 Kilometer Championship race for Long Island Track and Field, and was part of the 2000 Long Island Grand Prix of Road Races co-sponsored by KeySpan Energy and Long Island Track and Field.