Mineola Mustang Run Committee Chairperson Linda Fairgrieve announced that the Mineola Mustang Run/Walk, held on Sunday, Nov. 23, raised a record $33,000. A record 1,027 registered for the event with 785 runners and 144 walkers signed up for the 5K (3.1 mile race) and 98 participating in the one mile fun run. The event also received a strong contribution from the Mineola community as 224 Mineola residents signed up.

Perhaps the most startling number is the record 325 volunteers who responded to the call to help the Mustang Run/Walk go smoothly. Mrs. Fairgrieve expressed her deep appreciation to all these residents who helped.

The volunteers stood at street corners to insure the safety for the runners and walkers. The volunteers registered the participants, gave out foot and water and the shirts and helped at the finish line.

The funds raised from the event will be divided equally among the Mineola Volunteer Ambulance Corps, Mineola Athletic Association, Mineola Police Athletic League, Mienola Auxiliary Police, Mineola Fire Department for life-saving equipment, Mineola Historical Society, Mineola Youth and Family Services, the Cancer Center for Kids at Winthrop-University Hospital and Parent and Child Education Program, Inc. (PACE).

Hundreds of people were amazed at the performance of wheelchair entry Peter Hawkins, who covered the entire 3.1 mile course with a time of 13:08. The top overall male runner for the 5K was Jose Zayas with a time of 15:18 and the top female was Donna McMahon with a time of 18:44. The top male Mineola 5K runner was Ryan Hehman and the top female Mineola runner was Barbara Stagnari. The top 5K female walker was Dale Oswald and the top male walker was Doug Friedman. The top Mineola one mile fun run finishers were the brother/sister combination of Danny Stagnari and Jackie Stagnari.

Numerous organizations helped make this event the most successful ever including: Mayor Jack Martins, Mineola Board of Trustees, the Village of Mineola, Fire Chief Scott Strauss and the Mineola Fire Department, Mineola Volunteer Ambulance Corps and president Pat Tobin, members of the Mineola Chamber of Commerce, Mineola School Superintendent Dr. Lorenzo Licopoli, assistant superintendent for business and operations John Jackson, the entire Mineola School Board, County Seat Kiwanis, Mineola Knights of Columbus Corpus Christi Council, Mineola Youth and Family Services, Chief Mike Spae and the Mineola Auxiliary Police, Mineola Athletic Association, Mineola Historical Society, Mineola Police Athletic League, PACE, Mineola Teachers Association, Mineola High School Key Club, members of the Amateur Radio Emergency Services (ARES), Nassau County Police Department Third Precinct, the Mineola High School Track team, Boy Scout Troop 45, Cub Scout Troop 246, Cub Scout Troop 221, Girl Scout Troop 1504, Girl Scout Troop 1234 and Girl Scout Troop 2253.

Mrs. Fairgrieve also expressed special thanks to the entire Mineola business community for financial support of the event and urged residents to remember their local business community whenever purchases need to be made.

Sponsors for the event had their names listed in 7,000 journals, which were distributed throughout the entire community and to the participants of the event. Also, over 2,000 shirts were distributed to the runner/walkers and volunteers with the name of each sponsor listed on the shirts.

Mrs. Farigrieve also expressed special thanks to Angela Anton, owner of the Mineola American and Anton Community Newspapers, for coverage of the event and Padraic Phelan for singing The Star Spangled Banner.

The 20th annual Mineola Mustang Run/Walk will be held on November 21, 2004 and a special program will be announced to celebrate this historic event. Anyone wanting to be a sponsor or volunteer can contact Linda Fairgrieve at 294-5914.