Relay Dedicated to Local Heroes

Next Sunday's Ocean to Sound Relay will be going on as planned, but even as we enjoy the great day of running, team spirit and celebration, we can and should keep in mind the events of Sept. 11 and the heroism of those who sacrificed all in their efforts to save their fellow human beings.

In this spirit, we are dedicating the relay to the memory of those members of "New York's Bravest," the firefighters whose lives were lost in the senseless destruction of the World Trade Center. We are asking every team to make a donation to a special Firefighter's Relief Fund to ease the plight of the families of the firefighters who lost their lives on Sept. 11.

The Executive Board of the Greater Long Island Running Club (GLIRC) has voted to dedicate $1,000 of club funds for this purpose and we are asking each team that has entered the relay to make a donation to add on to that $1,000. Our "suggested" donation is $10 per person, but we will obviously accept any amount - whether more or less than the suggested amount. Either cash or check payable to GLIRC Firefighter's Relief Fund will be fine.

Feel free to mail your donation to 101-24 Dupont Street; Plainview, NY 11803. Alternatively, you can submit your donation at The Runner's Edge when you pick up your relay packet, or at Jones Beach on the morning of the relay.

Please join us in our effort to help in this small way to ease the burden for the families of our heroes. It may not sound like much, but when every person and every organization does their small share to show their solidarity, it's something to show the cowards who perpetrate this kind of crime that Americans aren't going to be bullied by monsters like them.

Alan End

Director

Ocean to Sound Relay