More than 500 local runners were on hand at Eisenhower Park on Thursday evening June 1, for the 9th annual edition of the David Lerner Associates Long Island Police Appreciation Run - the Long Island running community's way of saying "thank you" to the outstanding men and women of our local police forces in Nassau and Suffolk Counties.

Award winners from the local area included Anita Chen of Plainview, who took 3rd place in the female law enforcement officers division; Lawrence Frankel of Woodbury, 2nd in the men's masters law enforcement division; Lawrence's son David Frankel of Woodbury, 1st in the 14 and under age group; Lori Klausner of Plainview, 3rd in the women's 20-24 age group, Bill Meisner of Plainview, 2nd in the 50-54 age group; Joan Ackerman of Syosset, who scored 2nd in the women's 55-59 age group; Ruth Sturgess of Jericho, first place finisher in the women's 60-64 age group; Celeste Harkins of Plainview, who scored 1st in the women's 65-69 age group, Bert Jablon of Syosset and Odd Sangesland of Plainview, who finished 1-2 in the 70-74 age group.

But the real story of the day was the outpouring of support from Long Island runners for the Long Island Police Crisis Fund that helps local police officers and their families in times of personal financial emergency. The entire net proceeds of the Run go to this most important fund, and it was gratifying to see so many local runners out to say "thank you" for all the fine work done by "Long Island's Finest."

The Police Run was once again sponsored by the Long Island investment firm of David Lerner Associates ("the Asset Builders"), and conducted by the Greater Long Island Running Club, with GLIRC's Ira Eskow once again serving as the race director. David Katz of Finish Line Road Race Technicians was the technical director once again, with scoring by the ChampionChip.

"We were delighted by the fine turnout once again this year,"observed Race Director Ira Eskow. "The police always go that extra mile for Long Island, so we are happy to go 5 Kilometers to support them! Our special thanks and congratulations to Colleen and all the other great Hicksville runners who were on hand for the Run this year!"