A field of 502 runners and walkers celebrated Father's Day by successfully completing the second annual Vytra Kids Helping Kids 5 Kilometer Run on Sunday morning, June 20, and runners from Plainview scored with lots of awards to help celebrate the day!

The Run was held on the roads of Plainview, starting and finishing at the Plainview-Old Bethpage Middle School. The Run was conducted by the Greater Long Island Running Club on behalf of Kids Helping Kids, with the entire net proceeds earmarked to help children with extraordinary health needs. Kids Helping Kids founder Robert Eslick served as the race director.

Lots of Plainview-Old Bethpage residents won awards in the 5K Run, including Lori Harfenes-Melnik of Plainview, who was the fifth woman overall and first woman over the age of 40 to cross the finish line, in 19:36; 8-year-old Gregory Lester of Plainview, who took second place honors in the eight and under age group in 28:44; 10-year-old Layren Garner of Plainview, second in the women's 9-11 age group in 32:54; 12-year-old Matthew Desovich of Plainview, top finisher in the 12-14 age group in 22:00; 15-year-old Michelle Jarchin of Plainview, third place finisher in the women's age 15-17 age group in 28:48; Eddie Arbeiter of Plainview, third place in the 45-49 age group in 18:26; and 73-year-old George Nadel of Plainview, who scored third in the 70-74 age group in 41:29. George also was presented with a special award as the oldest POB resident to successfully complete the 5K Run.

Also winning an award was Jeff Symons of Plainview. Jeff took first place in the 18-19 age group in 27:13, slowing down considerably to complete the Run with his dad, Oyster Bay Town Councilman Len Symons.

Top finishers overall were Don DiDonato of Hicksville, Donna McMahon of Farmingdale, and wheelchair champion Jesse Walsh of Huntington.

In addition to the 502 finishers in the 5 Kilomer Run, nearly 200 youngsters took part in either the 440 yard Sprint or the 1/2 Mile Fun Run on the middle school track that preceded the main event.

Among those on hand to wish the runners and walkers well were Oyster Bay Town Supervisor John Venditto, Nassau County Legislator Judy Jacobs and, of course, Oyster Bay Town Councilman Len Symons.

Thanks go to title sponsor Vytra Health Plans, and other major sponsors Woodbury Deli, North Fork Bank, Tucker Anthony, Camp Kenwall, McDonald's and Hunt-Liedtke Management Co., Inc.

"We are thrilled at the turnout for this year's run," noted race director Eslick, a resident of Old Bethpage, "and especially by the amazing turnout of kids to help other kids. If we can teach the youth of America to help each other, imagine what they will do for each other when they become adults. The youth of today is America's future tomorrow, and that's what 'Kids Helping Kids' and this event are all about!"