It was the fall of 1981 and the Mineola School District had failed to pass a budget the previous May. In order to keep school doors open, the district was working with an austerity budget ¬ bare bones, no extras. That meant no after school programs, no drama club, no sports.

It was a tough time to be a student athlete, but what softened the blow was the work of some local residents who cooked up what has become the village's largest fund-raising event ¬ The Mineola Mustang Run. This year, the tradition continues on Sunday, Nov. 21.

That first year, Scott Fairgrieve, Daniel Carolin, Walter Glenn and Bill Kruse organized the run and managed to raise a few thousand dollars for sports programs. It may not have helped everyone, but it showed what could be accomplished with some planning and the participation of residents and businesses.

"Between 300 and 400 people showed up that year," Fairgrieve remembered. "By the next year, the school district was back in order, but we decided to do it again, this time for the Mineola Volunteer Ambulance Corps."

By 1988, Fairgrieve and the other volunteers were in need of a rest and the run was retired. But people kept asking Fairgrieve to start it up again.

"We had put it on for about eight years in a row and it got to be too much," said Fairgrieve, who is partner in the law firm of Martin, Van DeWalle, Donohue, McGahan, Catalano and Fairgrieve. "We brought it back in 1993 and it's been growing ever since."

Today there are about 50 people working on the event committee and dozens of other volunteers throughout the community. Last year's run attracted 650 participants ¬ both runners and walkers ¬ and the event netted about $15,000, which is split evenly among MVAC, the Mineola Athletic Association, Mineola PAL, Mineola Auxiliary Police, Mineola Fire Department and the Mineola Historical Society. Those same organizations will be the beneficiaries this year.

The run begins at Mineola Middle School, 200 Emory Road, and follows a fast and flat residential course. Both a 5K (or 3.1 mile) run/walk and a one-mile "fun run" will take place. The 5K run/walk is open to all entries 10 years and older. The fun run is open to all participants.

"We get all kinds of people participating," Fairgrieve said. "You get some top-line runners who come in here. We have a lot of wheelchair participants; people who are just weekend athletes; and some who just take the leisurely walk to help the cause."

Pre-registration is $15 for either event, which also guarantees a long-sleeved T-shirt with the event logo. Late registration is $17 for either event, which includes a T-shirt if supplies last. Trophies will be given out in many categories for both races.

Most of the expenses for the race, including the T-shirts, trophies, insurance and mailings, are covered by registration fees. The actual profits are culled primarily from business sponsors. But besides monetary support, volunteers are still needed to help the run go smoothly.

"The problem is we have 60 to 70 street corners that have to be controlled so the runners don't get hit by cars," Fairgrieve said. "We need people to sit by the corners. They can bring a chair and just sit there and make sure cars don't dart out in the path of the runners. They even get a free T-shirt."

Most Mineola orgainzations are signed on to help in one way or another. From the Boy and Girl Scouts to the fire and auxiliary police departments, the event is truly one of the biggest community draws of the year.

"Everyone can get involved in one way or another," Fairgrieve said. "It's really a rare kind of event which draws people from all areas of the community."