The Long Island Spinal Cord Injury Resource Center (LISCIRC), a project of the Testaverde Fund for Spinal Cord Injury, announced its second annual Race for Spinal Victory - a 5K walk/run and a more challenging 10-mile run to take place on April 30 at Jones Beach. Proceeds of the event will go to fund spinal cord injury research and to support LISCIRC whose focus is on community and family outreach and spinal cord injury education programs. Registration forms and sponsor sheets can be downloaded at www.testaverdefund.com or can be obtained by contacting Race Coordinator, Robin Waltman, at 221-6162.

Ron Quartararo, president of the Testaverde Fund stated, "This is an opportunity to involve the entire community - schools, businesses, community groups, and the general public to help promote the amazing work being done to find a cure for SCI and to help raise money to accelerate that process." Everyone is invited to run or walk the 5K event. The 10-mile event is for runners only. Runners can also be sponsored by others who cannot race, or by local businesses.

The Testaverde Fund, a 501C3 nonprofit organization, was named after Wantagh resident Joe Testaverde, who was injured in a swimming pool accident in 2000 at age 17 and is now a quadriplegic. Kathy Testaverde, chairperson of the group and mother of Joe added, "Our goal is also to help families in need of assistance who do not have the support network that our family had when Joe was injured, and to educate kids on how to prevent such accidents." Joe Testaverde is assistant director of LISCIRC and cousin to former NY Jets quarterback Vinny Testaverde.

The race will take place at Jones Beach Parking Field 5 (Zachs Bay). Entry fee for participants is $20 if postmarked by April 25 or $25 on race day. Racers will have the option of competing in either a 5K run/walk or more challenging 10-mile run with winners announced. Raffle prizes will also be awarded. Official results will be posted at www.flrrt.com.

The Long Island Spinal Cord Injury Resource Center offers outreach to victims of spinal cord injuries and their families. "We help individuals and their families secure assistance, information and the technological devices that can make a dramatic difference in their lives," said Anthony Testaverde. "Recently, we provided a young East-end woman with a voice-activated laptop computer equipped with a head mouse that can be controlled with forehead movements. Devices like these offer amazing advantages. We want to be able to bring help to more people and continue to speak out in support of stem cell research that can be the ultimate gift we give to individuals with spinal cord injuries."