On Saturday, April 26 more than 500 runners are expected to attend the Fourth Annual Alec's Run to celebrate the life of Alec Nelson, who was only 16-months old when a close relative accidentally backed over him in the family's driveway on April 24, 2004.

Each year the Nelson family organizes the run that takes place the last weekend of April to honor their son's memory. The family refers to this day as Alec's "Angel Day" and part of the proceeds will be donated to Hospice Care Network.

After Alec's tragic death, the Nelson family, Bill Nelson and Adriann Raschdorf-Nelson and their son and daughter, sought help through the bereavement program at Hospice Care Network, the largest hospice on Long Island with locations in Woodbury, Bay Shore and Fresh Meadows. "You never expect to lose a child and Hospice Care Network was a tremendous organization at a time when we needed it the most," said Bill Nelson. "Their counseling services are free and no matter what grief a person may be dealing with, Hospice Care Network will help address each individual need."

The Nelsons worked with Hospice Care Network's bereavement counselors for close to a year and during that time Bill and Adriann created Alec's Run not only as a way to deal with their grief, but to celebrate their son's life. "My wife and I are both runners, and together we came up with the idea of Alec's Run which has grown into so much more," said Nelson.

Mary Gravina, assistant vice president of Counseling Services and director of the Pediatric and Perinatal Programs at Hospice Care Network, who worked with the Nelson family, explained that when dealing with the loss of a loved one every person grieves differently. "At Hospice Care Network we provide a caring and safe environment staffed by compassionate professionals and volunteers to help our patients and their families, as well as community members, work through such a difficult time."

According to Kids and Cars, from 2002 to 2006 almost 50 percent of nontraffic fatalities in the United States were children under 15 years of age, who were victims of backovers. Last year the Nelson family worked with Kids and Cars to pass Alec's Law in Suffolk and Nassau Counties. This law requires all Long Island car dealerships to provide a brochure to buyers on the danger of blind spots.

To honor the memory of their son, the Nelson family also created the Alec William Nelson Charitable Corporation. The goal of the corporation is to assist in the lives of the people who need it most no matter what issues they may face. A large portion of the money raised from Alec's Run is used to fund the year-round programs that the corporation provides for those in need. One program that the Corporation funded was a support group who went down to New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina to help rebuild the city. Proceeds from this event will also be donated to Hospice Care Network's Children's and Family Bereavement program www.hospicecarenetwork.org and Kids and Cars www.kidsandcars.org, an advocacy group that strives to make cars safer for the littlest passengers like Alec.

Alec's Run IV will take place April 26 at the Half Hollow Hills High School West in Dix Hills at 9 a.m. and features a 4 Mile Race and a 1K Fun Race. There will be refreshments and raffle prizes. To register as a runner email adriannraschdorfnelson@yahoo.com or call 631-755-0786. For more information about Alec's Run, visit www.alecsrun.com.