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Editorial — Sean’s Run just keeps on growing Age: Not a Factor at Sean’s Run Sean’s Run and First Niagara Bank Add Special Feature Sean’s Run Scholarship Winners Announced First Niagara and Sean’s Run Name Grant Winners High School Runners Invited to Apply for “Love of Running” Scholarship Sean’s Run Sponsored Generously First Niagara Bank and Sean’s Run Offering Grants |
Sean’s Run numbers up this year in entries and volunteers Originally Published in the Chatham Courier: James Boedin of Millerton took second place in the 5k with a time of 16:48 and Dave Vona of Valatie placed third with a time of 16:56. Emma Gryner of Craryville was the first female to cross the finish line with a time of 21:05. According to Sean’s Run General Chairman Jeff French, the nearly constant drizzle that wet the ground Sunday did nothing to hinder the race or the turnout, with 1,462 entrants — almost 100 more than last year — and many more coming out to show their support. Race Secretary and Sean’s father, Mark, agreed. “Our focus on this is not the front, the best and the fastest,” he said. “Our goal is to do something the community can really get involved in.” With Sean’s Run growing nearly 300 percent in the past four years, the community has really gotten involved, with everyone from teachers and students to alumni and local residents racing and donating their time to help with the event. “I do this in the spirit of Sean,” said Chatham Middle School science teacher and runner Jason Kahn. “He was a good kid and we all miss him. I think this would be better if he was here.” High School teacher and event volunteer Virginia Nightingale agreed. “I do it because I remember Sean fondly,” she said, “and because I think it’s an important event to teach people about drunk driving.” Not only did people from all over the community come out, but the event attracted people from all over New York, as well as Massachusetts, Connecticut, Vermont, Pennsylvania and even Florida. According to Mark French, what really touched him was the amount of volunteers who offered their support. “Overall, I’m very impressed with how many volunteers we had from the community,” he remarked. “It’s great that a lot of people came from other places, but they wouldn’t come if we didn’t have a great community organization.” More than 60 First Niagara Bank employees volunteered on Saturday and Sunday, as well as another 75 individuals from the community, including many students and graduates of the Chatham school district. More than 250 kids up to age 13 participated in the youth race, Meghan’s Mile, with first place going to Drew McAuley, 12, of Schenectady, with a record setting time of 6:12. Second and third place went to Chase Werner, 11, and Christopher Palladin, 13, respectively. Philmont’s Samantha Taylor placed first in the female division (fifth overall) with a time of 6:50. Aside from the races, Sean’s Run is also home to the world championships of an unusual, but educational event called Battle of the Belts, which helps teach children of all ages the importance of wearing a seat belt at all times. The competition involved teams of four sprinting to van, buckling their seat belts and raising their hands when finished. Once everyone on the team had raised their hands and was inspected by a Chatham Police officer, they performed a Chinese fire drill three times until all four members of the team had been buckled and inspected in all four seats. This year’s Battle of the Belts high school champions were Fonda-Fultonville High School with their team, “J.Rad,” in first, Berlin High School with their team, “Team Buckleup,” in second and The Marathon Project with their team, “The Marathoners,” in third. Chatham Middle School teams “The Bucklin’ Babes” and “The Fruitful Belt Ninjas” came in first and second, respectively, in the junior high age group. Lynch Literacy Academy from Amsterdam took third place with their team, “The Mad Bucklers.” In addition to the annual 5k race, Battle of the Belts and Megan’s Mile, this year, Sean’s Run added another event, Sea Jem’s Super Saturday Run for Special Needs Kids. In this event, nearly 20 kids with a variety of special needs ran a shorter race around the high school parking lot, receiving the same T-shirts as the contestants in Sean’s Run, as well as various medals and ribbons. According to Mark French, many people who saw the event said it was really the highlight of the weekend for them. He added that he has been told that Sean’s Run is the first ever road race to attach an event for kids with special needs. Despite the rain Sunday, the wet weather seemed to encourage many of the runners, with several saying how the cooler air was much better than last year’s 90 degree temps, making it easier for them to run the course and get better times. Volunteers and runners alike had various reasons for attending this year’s Sean’s Run, with groups ranging from Chatham alumni high school cheerleaders, who just wanted to prove they could run a good race, to semi-professional running groups like the Kinderhook Runner’s Club, who boasted more than 30 members and supported the race on several different levels. Volunteers manning the various anti-drunk driving booths saw the even as a good opportunity to help educate the community. Others, like Gary Tuthill, see the race in a different light. Tuthill, who began running with coworkers to lose weight, looked at the race as something he could finally do for a good cause. The Chatham resident, who is a member of the Chatham Fire Department and volunteer with the Chatham Rescue Squad, said that he frequently sees drunk driving accidents and fatalities in the course of his work, so he was glad to be able to help out the Sean’s Run cause. “Quite honestly I hate to run,” he said. “It was really just contributing [to the cause.]” Even Superintendent Cheryl Nuciforo made an appearance at the event. “I think it’s a good issue to focus on, especially this time of the year,” she said. “It’s important for the whole community to come together.” Doris Aiken, president of RID, USA, was one of the many people who made use of the event to try and teach people about the dangers of both alcohol abuse and drunk driving. “I do it because of the tragedy,” she said, “but I also do it because a drunk driver can also be an alcoholic.” She added that RID is about stopping alcohol-related injuries and fatalities of any kind. One such initiative that may soon come to Columbia County is called the Safety Tree. A pine tree is planted and decorated with white lights and every time there is an alcohol-related death, one of the lights turns red, creating a visual of just how dangerous alcohol and drinking and driving can be. Overall, Mark French and all the volunteers considered the event to be a huge success, citing not only the education and the memories of Sean, but the sense of coming together as a community every year for Sean’s Run. “A lot of people consider Sean’s Run mandatory because it is such a positive community event,” said Julie Keating, director of the Kinderhook Runner’s club. “This run is really like a homecoming opportunity to come back and be with family and friends.” Over 700 compete in 9th Sean’s Run 5K Originally Published in the Register Star: CHATHAM — Bad weather didn’t prevent runners from making the trip to Chatham on Sunday to participate in the ninth annual Sean’s Run event as over 778 participants from throughout New York State, as well as Massachusetts, Connecticut, Vermont, Pennsylvania and Florida competed. Chuck Terry of Albany took first place overall with a time of 15:58 in the 5K while Craryville’s Emma Gryner was the first female to cross the finish line at 21:05. Also Sunday, the annual Sean’s Rune Meghan’s Mile was held for children up to age 12 and Schenectady’s Drew McAuley took the top prize with a time of 6:12 while Philmont’s Samantha Taylor placed first for the female runners (fifth overall) with a time of 6:50. There were 255 runners that crossed the finish line in the mile race. “Despite the weather, numbers were up,” stated race coordinator Mark French, noting that official participation increased from 1,371 to 1,462 this year. “We added the special needs race this year, which was the highlight for a lot of people, and we are working on some things for next year since it will be our 10th anniversary. We are hoping to make it even more special than it has been these past nine years.” The special needs race was held Saturday. Proceeds from Sean’s Run are used to combat underage drinking and impaired driving. Sean’s Run Recap Originally published in the Times Union This post was written by guest blogger Julie Keating who attended the race yesterday. Battle of the Belts at Sean's Run Over the years the race has also become an occasion for homecoming, when those that have moved out of the area for work or other reasons reunite with friends and family. James Hogan of Brooklyn is pictured with Mary Maguire of Tivoli. These friends for over 20 years going back to their days at Ichabod Crane High School in Valatie decided to run the 5K course together, and finished in times of 28:40 and 28:41. This was James’ first ever race. He decided to make a New Year’s resolution for 2010 to run a 5K, and chose Sean’s Run for his debut, training primarily on a treadmill. This is just one example of how Sean’s Run has been a tool for positive change in the lives of those that participate. Of all the races held in this region throughout the year, this race is the only one that I have heard runners say is a must on their calendars: “We have to do Sean’s!” Editorial — Sean’s Run just keeps on growing Originally Published in the Register Star: Nine years later and Sean’s Run is not only still going, it’s growing. In addition to all of the events and scholarship opportunities that Sean’s Run has provided, this year they’ve added yet another special feature. Dubbed the “Sea Jem’s Super Saturday Run for Special Needs Kids,” the organizers have produced a new race specially designed for special needs kids. The event on April 24 is sponsored by Boston-based seafood wholesaler Sea Jem. There are several reasons why this race was designed (and you can read about them on page A2), but maybe the most important ones are that Sean French demonstrated a special compassion for children with disabilities and also because his friend, Ian Moore, became a paraplegic as a result of the car crash Jan. 1, 2002 that claimed the life of 17-year-old Sean. Sean’s father, Mark, who volunteered to lead the Organizing Committee’s effort to start this new feature, said, “That’s what makes the success of this new feature personally important.” This new feature is just one more dimension to the annual race that has grown beyond leaps and bounds since the first one in April 2002. The first one attracted more than 1,000 participants. The Sean Patrick French Scholarship Fund was created, which now awards six to 10 scholarships annually to seniors through the Capital Region. In the second year, the event added the Prevention Education Expo. In the third year, the Committee created the Sean’s Run Web site. In the fourth year, Sean’s Run helped introduce the regional “Parents Who Host, Lost the Most” campaign. In the fifth year, the World Championship Battle of the Belts seat belt contest was added — an event equally as exciting as Sean’s Run. Prior to prom season each year, high schools, middle schools and youth organizations throughout the region hold preliminary “buckle-up” battles; Chatham has added additional awards, such as Best Team T-Shirt or Best Team Name. The final competition is held at Sean’s Run. A special Tribute to Victims and Survivors of impaired driving and crashes was also added in 2006. Chip Timing, which allows times to be posted within minutes of the finish of the 5K, was introduced in the sixth year. In 2008, the Committee dedicated Sean’s Run to Meghan Kraham. At 16, she helped organize the first Sean’s Run. After battling a rare form of cancer for six months, she died on Aug. 18, 2008. Last year, the eighth year, saw the highest turnout of participants (hopefully to be surpassed this year). The Organizing Committee also renamed Sean’s Mile, the 1-mile youth race, Meghan’s Mile. While Sean’s Run is a fun and generous event, we must remember why it was created — to raise awareness about the problems of underage drinking and impaired driving, as well as seat belt use. Note: Registration costs vary depending on the date. For online registration: before April 17, adults, 18 and over, are $18, $23 after; youth 6-17, $10 before, $15 after. Cost for families is $45 before April 17 and $50 after; children 5 and under are always free. To register by mail by April 19, go to the Web site, www.seansrun.com, where you can print the form and access the mailing address. You can also drop off your registration, by April 23, at First Niagara Bank in Chatham (times listed on the Web site). If you miss all of these dates, you can register the weekend of the event at the Chatham High School, 2-4 p.m. April 24 and 10-11:30 a.m. April 25. Sean’s Run encourages everyone to come out Sunday, April 25 for the event. Its growth is partly due to all of its supporters. Good luck participants and organizers.
Sean’s Run Again Celebrates Youth and Life Spring is a time filled with the anticipation of wonderful things to come. For high school students it’s the anticipation of upcoming proms, summer vacations, and graduations. But for us, spring means another Sean’s Run is on its way! Scheduled purposefully in the middle of prom season, Sean’s Run is more than an annual event for runners and walkers - it’s a reminder that a moment’s bad judgment can result in tragedy. Underage drinking, impaired driving, or failure to use seatbelts can take the lives of our children. The 9th Annual Sean’s Run will take place at Chatham High School over the weekend of April 24 and 25. On Saturday April 24th, the Sean’s Run organizing committee will present the first ever Sea Jem’s Super Saturday Run for Special Needs Kids and offer packet pick-up and walk up registration for participants in the 5K and Meghan’s Mile which will be produced on the following day. On Sunday, April 25th, the 9th Annual 5K Run/Walk, Meghan’s Mile youth race, the Battle of the Belts World Championship, the Prevention Education Expo, the Tribute to Victims and Survivors of Drunk Driving will be conducted. All the activities of Sean’s Run are as annual reminders that drunk driving crashes - like the one on January 1, 2002 that claimed the life of Sean Patrick French - are preventable when communities work together. At the time of his death, Sean was a champion runner, honor role student, and community volunteer. The crash also paralyzed his friend Ian Moore. The two juniors were passengers in a car driven by an intoxicated schoolmate. Sean and Ian were not wearing seat belts. Thanks to your support, Sean’s Run has raised $135,550 that has funded prevention programs at schools and youth organizations and rewarded outstanding high school students with scholarships. It is only right that a footrace memorializes Sean’s life. From age seven until his death at 17, Sean compiled an astounding list of running accomplishments and became one of the finest local high school athletes of his generation. As a sophomore, he placed second in the New York State Public High School cross-country championships and the following spring ran the fastest metric mile of any sophomore in the State – 4:18! That spring, at age 16, he took four firsts at both the Section II and the Patroon Conference championship track meets. That would be his final track and field season. Sean Patrick French, age 17, fall 2001, cross country meet at Olana Historic Site. More extraordinary, though, were his “non-running” attributes. A Sports Illustrated article, published three months after his death, described Sean as “selfless,” “gracious,” “caring,” “hard-working” - a “young goodwill ambassador who led by example in Chatham, in the running community, and beyond.” The article noted that, “When 3,000 people attend the funeral services of a 17-year old, it is evidence that a community has lost someone recognized as very special.” But Sean’s Run is more than a remembrance of one teen’s life, it is a community rising to say that losses like this are unacceptable. Sean’s Run says “Never again.” It is a reminder that underage drinking is no harmless rite of passage, but rather a dangerous flirtation with disaster. Once again, First Niagara Bank has graciously stepped forward to sponsor Sean’s Run by contributing $10,000 to the event. “Sean’s Run, the Battle of the Belts and all the other related activities of this event are a great way to reach young people”, said Thomas Amell, First Niagara Regional President. “First Niagara is the Presenting Sponsor of Sean’s Run because we believe that investing in the safety of our teens makes good sense.” We look forward to seeing you on Sunday, April 26, 2010! Be one of the 1,500 runners and walkers who will come together to celebrate Spring, remember one very special young man, and say “Never again.” Bring your running shoes and your smiles!
Age: Not a Factor at Sean’s Run Stan Card recalled how, at last year’s event, he was just a few hundred yards from the finish line when he caught up to two women who had been ahead of him the whole race. As he moved along side of them he said, jokingly, that he was going to beat them. “For me,” he said, “it’s fun to see people who are younger than I am trying to keep up with me! Plus, out on the course I get a lot of encouragement from many of the participants as well as from spectators along the streets. “ Debbie Oleynek described their side-by-side finish: “When this nice gentleman suddenly came along side of Shari and me, we were both sweating, tired and working pretty hard just to finish in a respectable time. He said he could beat us and we asked him his age. When he said 86, I thought there is no way this 86-year-old is beating me across the finish line,” she said, laughing. “So I said, ‘Let’s finish together.’ He smiled and Shari and I had to pick up our pace to stay next to him. It was my first-ever Sean’s Run.” Shari Franks is the Recreation Director for the Town of Chatham and she has served 9 years on the run/walk’s Organizing Committee, helping to establish the event in 2002. "Lot’s of things makes Sean’s Run special, one being the fact that our Committee is made up of so many caring volunteers who all do their part to make the event a success and do it well year after year.” Shari helps organize the Prevention Education Expo that includes exhibits by various youth serving organizations providing information to help parents and teens make healthy life choices. She is also the advisor of the Chatham Middle School chapter of Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD). “The message we are trying to convey about the dangers of underage drinking, drunk driving and the importance of seatbelt use has stretched far beyond our community,” she said. “The other club advisors who bring students to the event tell me how much Sean’s Run means to them and the work they do in their own communities.” Students from more than 50 schools are expected this year. Some participants take the time to prepare for the walk or run, and to use it as a reason to begin exercising. Others just show up for the fun, no preparation. Stan Card says he stays ready year-round! “At 87 years it’s about staying active. Every day I walk for an hour starting at 5:30AM.” He has a simple formula to his good health that he suggests others should consider. “Keep all your habits, don't change what has worked good for you.” Debbie Oleynek has been getting ready for the 9th Annual Sean’s Run since January by working out with her friends at the Spencertown Fire House. “I’m coming back because it’s a great race and a fun event. It offers me a sense of achievement.” Some participants also use the event as a way to honor or remember a friend or family member. “Last year was actually my first time completing the whole 5K course,” said Shari Franks. “I have walked the mile twice at Sean’s Run, but never the 5K because I typically like to be helping at the finish line and cheering on the participants” But last year, Franks said she walked the longer distance in support of Nancy Zygmon, a committee member who was stricken with cancer and perished in September. Many participants return year after year. Stan Card keeps coming back to Sean’s Run and he brings his family with him. “There are three generations of my family there,” he said. “Besides me, my daughter, son-in-law and two grand daughters participate. We made this a family event. I especially enjoy the interaction with many people who you see there every year.” In talking about others in his generation who might be thinking of participating in Sean’s Run, to walk the mile or the 5K, he said, “Do it. It doesn't matter what place you finish in. For me, this is not a race, but much more it is a feeling of accomplishment. Everyone who participates can feel the same thing. I'll be lined up again this year, the Lord willing.”
Sean’s Run and First Niagara Bank Add Special Feature March 15, 2010 - Sean’s Run, the popular event presented by First Niagara Bank in Chatham each April to highlight the problems of underage drinking, impaired driving, and teens’ lax use of seatbelts, is taking steps to ensure that more people have a chance to enjoy the fun and excitement. Beginning this year, Sean’s Run will add an additional foot race to an event program which already includes a 5K and Meghan’s Mile youth race. These two races are anticipated to attract about 1,500 participants and will take place on Sunday, April 25. On the day before, Saturday April 24th, the organizers of Sean’s Run will produce a new race specially designed for Special Needs Kids. The new activity has been dubbed, “Sea Jem’s Super Saturday Run for Special Needs Kids” in recognition of the Boston-based seafood wholesaler Sea Jem, which is sponsoring the newest component of the Sean’s Run program. Sea Jem's fresh and frozen fish are sold in the Seafood Departments at all Price Chopper Supermarket stores. Now kids with special needs and developmental disabilities will have their own special event associated with Sean’s Run. The Register Star and Chatham Courier are Media Sponsors of Sean’s Run. Registration for the Super Saturday Run is free, and all participants will be provided an event T-shirt and finisher’s ribbon. Registration forms are available at all First Niagara Bank branches. Participants should be at the Chatham High School parking lot in time for the 3 p.m. start on Saturday, April 24th. The races will range from 25 to 100 yards to, depending on the ability of the entrants. In addition to the 5K and Meghan’s Mile on Sunday, April 25, Sean’s Run also includes a Prevention Education Expo, the World Championship Battle of the Belts seatbelt buckling competition, and a tribute to victims of drunk driving. All proceeds are given as grants to schools and youth organizations and as scholarships to deserving seniors from throughout the region. In March, the organizing committee also co-hosted a Points and Insurance Reduction Program safe driving class with Sean’s Run sponsor Taconic Driving School. Following the 2009 Sean’s Run, the founder of the East Greenbush Miracle League (www.capitalregionmiracleleague.org), Burke Adams, contacted organizing committee member Mark French and indicated he was interested in working with the committee to determine how the disabled kids in his program could also be participants in Sean’s Run. Adams indicated he was aware of the positive reputation of Sean’s Run and wanted his kids to be able to experience the exhilaration of crossing under the Sean’s Run Finish Line banner. He asked that the committee consider adding a new component to the existing program. French said he did not think twice about taking “Burke’s wonderful idea” to the entire organizing committee, which unanimously approved including the special activity beginning this April. French has some experience in developing such opportunities for disabled people. In the early 1990s he was a cofounder of the county’s first Little League program for disabled children, and in the early years of Sean’s Run, he made provisions for wheelchair racers to participate. Two paraplegics who knew Sean from the starting lines of various road races in the capital region accepted French’s invitation to compete in the wheelchair division. Both accomplished athletes, April Coughlin, then 20, and Marty Ryan, who perished after last year’s Sean Run following a battle with cancer, participated in several Sean’s Runs. Coughlin is now a school teacher in New York City and has gone on to win the Boston Marathon and participate in the World Championship Triathlon in Switzerland. French recalled how well they navigated the hills on the Sean’s Run 5K course and how they inspired everyone who witnessed their determination.
But those are not the only reasons why Mark French volunteered to lead the Organizing Committee’s effort to start this new feature of Sean’s Run. It is because his deceased son, Sean, had demonstrated a special compassion for children with disabilities, and because Sean’s buddy, Ian Moore, became a paraplegic as a result of the deadly crash that claimed Sean’s life. “That’s what makes the success of this new feature personally important,” he explained. Working with the volunteers of the Albany Miracle League, the Sean’s Run organizing committee is planning a safe and enjoyable athletic experience for the Saturday event, which will be conducted in a way, according to French, that will give kids a feeling of belonging and accomplishment. He added, “We hope Sea Jem’s Super Saturday Run for Special Needs Kids brings hope, inspiration and the joys of achievement to people with disabilities.” For more information about this or the other components of Sean’s Run, contact French at MarkFrench@Fairpoint.net.
Sean’s Run Scholarship Winners Announced March 1, 2010 – Ten high school seniors, including eight from Columbia County, have been selected as recipients of Sean Patrick French Memorial Scholarships. The scholarship fund, administered by the Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation, was established from a portion of the proceeds raised during the inaugural Sean’s Run in 2002 and continues to be supported by donations from the family and friends of Sean French. In the past nine years 68 deserving seniors have been awarded scholarships from the fund. A five-person selection panel convened by the Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation reviewed the applications and determined the recipients. The two scholarships from the Sean Patrick French Memorial Scholarship Fund reserved for Chatham High School students will be awarded to Aimee Palleschi and Joseph Cozzolino. This scholarship rewards community service and demonstrated compassion for all people. Each will receive $1,000. This year saw the highest number of applications to-date from Chatham High School seniors for this scholarship. Awardees of the Love of Running Scholarships include Emma Gryner from The two Good Sports Scholarships that are awarded to Cross Country runners from Section II are going to Rachael Cyrus from Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake HS and Zach Nelson from Albany Academy. Each XC runner who is selected by a panel of Section II Cross Country Coaches as a Section II Good Sportsmanship Awardee is invited to apply. Applicants were asked to describe two specific incidences that demonstrate their good sportsmanship during the Cross Country season. Each will be awarded $500. All ten scholarship winners will be recognized during the opening ceremony of Sean’s Run, on Sunday, April 25th. Information about the scholarship is available by clicking here.
First Niagara and Sean’s Run Name Grant Winners February 12, 2010 - First Niagara Bank and the organizers of Sean’s Run have announced the names of the schools and youth organizations to be awarded $500 grants to implement the Battle of the Belts, a fun and fast moving activity designed by the Sean’s Run Organizing Committee to increase teens’ use of seatbelts. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, car crashes are the number one cause of death for teens and nearly 2/3 of those who perish were not using safety belts. First Niagara Bank is the Presenting Sponsor of Sean’s Run, an annual community run/walk held at Chatham High School on the last Sunday of April. The event’s organizing committee is preparing for 1,500 participants in the 5K and 1 Mile events on April 25. The money raised at Sean’s Run from sponsorships, contributions and participant entry fees is invested in programs at schools and youth organizations selected through a competitive application process. Schools and youth groups in 9-counties surrounding Columbia County were sent invitations in September to apply for funding. Those awarded grants include: In Columbia County – Germantown Central School, Hudson City Department of Youth, Hudson Valley Youth Action on Tobacco, Chatham High and Chatham Middle Schools. In Rensselaer County – Averill Park, Berlin, Columbia and Hoosick Falls High Schools and the Schodack/Castleton Community Partnership. In Schenectady County – Mohonasen High School. In Dutchess County – Pine Plains Stissing Mountain High School and the Dutchess County Council on Addition Prevention and Education. In Montgomery County – Amsterdam High School, Lynch Literacy Academy and Fonda-Fultonville High School. In addition, $500 grants will be awarded to each of three regional organizations dedicated to combating underage drinking and impaired driving. These include Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), Remove Intoxicated Drivers (RID) and Choices 301. Thomas Amell, President of First Niagara Bank Eastern Region said, "First Niagara is proud to be associated with Sean's Run and the French family and we wholeheartedly feel that their effort is having a dramatic positive impact on the safety of our children. We appreciate the opportunity to be a partner in this effort and look forward to continuing the education of the children in our community on the risks associated with making the wrong choices.” Jeff French, Chairman of Sean’s Run, said “First Niagara Bank makes it possible for us to provide the seed money to encourages schools and youth groups to try this innovative activity to reduce the number of teens who fail to use their seatbelts.” Over the past seven years, Sean’s Run has awarded 84 grants to schools and youth groups. In addition to the 5K and 1 Mile run/walk, the 9th Annual Sean’s Run will include a Prevention Educational Expo, a Tribute to Victims and Survivors of drunken driving, and the World Championship Battle of the Belts interscholastic seatbelt bucking contest.
High School Runners Invited to Apply for “Love of Running” Scholarship January 6, 2010 — High school seniors residing in Columbia County who have run cross country or track and field are invited to apply for a Sean Patrick French “Love of Running” Scholarship. Applications, available from high school guidance counselors and at www.SeansRun.com, must be submitted by February 15 to the selection committee. Last year six local runners were each awarded a $500 Love of Running scholarship including Tom Accuosti and Chelsea Rose Bell from Ichabod Crane, Martin Holdrege from Hawthorne Valley, Hayley Madsen and Ryan Nightingale from Chatham and Imelda Muller from Taconic Hills Applicants are required to submit a short essay describing how running and participation on their teams has prepared them for the challenges of college. A letter of recommendation from their coach must also be included with the application. The scholarship fund was created by the family of Sean French following his tragic death as a passenger in an underage drunk driving car wreck on January 1, 2002. He was a junior a Chatham High School, an honor roll student and an accomplished runner. Sean loved running and established several school records in his abbreviated career, finishing second at the State Cross Country Championship as a freshman. As a sophomore he took second at the state Track and Field championship in the mile, running the distance in 4:18 as a 16 year-old. The scholarship fund also supports four other annual scholarships including two for Cross Country runners selected by Section II high school coaches and two for Chatham High School seniors. The scholarship fund is administered by the Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation. It was established using a portion of the proceeds from the inaugural Sean’s Run in 2002 and is supported through ongoing contributions from family and friends. More information about the scholarships and Sean’s Run is available at HYPERLINK "http://www.SeansRun.com" www.SeansRun.com. Sean’s Run Sponsored Generously Chatham, 12/2/2009: First Niagara Bank has been joined by a group of other business and individuals which have made commitments to sponsor the 9th Annual Sean’s Run scheduled for next April. Sean’s Run, an annual event produced in Chatham is one of the largest run/walk events in the region, attracting 1,347 entrants last spring. In addition to becoming a classic athletic event in the region, Sean’s Run has become the area’s perennial spring-time reminder about the pervasive problems of underage drinking, impaired driving and teenagers’ lax use of seatbelts. In the past seven years $120,500 has been awarded by the Organizing Committee from event proceeds to support scholarships and activities produced by youth groups and schools designed to encourage teens to make safe choices about drinking, driving and use of seatbelts. More information about the event, the sponsors and the Sean’s Run grants and scholarship programs is available at www.SeansRun.com. First Niagara Bank and Sean’s Run Offering Grants October 22, 2009 — First Niagara Bank and the organizers of Sean’s Run have announced the availability of cash grants for youth organizations and schools to implement the fun and fast paced Battle of the Belts, a youth activity designed to increase teens’ and ‘tweens use of seatbelts. The grants are made possible through First Niagara Bank’s sponsorship of Sean’s Run. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, car crashes are the number one cause of death for teens; nearly 2/3 of those who perish were not using safety belts. School groups and youth organizations such as Scouts, 4-H, church groups and sports teams, may apply for up to $500 each to implement a Battle of the Belts seatbelt buckling contest and send teams to participate in the World Championship Battle of the Belts at Sean’s Run next April. Instructions for youth groups and schools to submit a one-page application are available at HYPERLINK "http://www.SeansRun.com" www.SeansRun.com. Applications are due by December 1, 2009. First Niagara is the Presenting Sponsor of Sean’s Run, an annual event that focuses on the problems of underage drinking, impaired driving and teens’ lax use of seat belts. Held the last Sunday of April at Chatham High School, the event attracted 1,371 participants last year in the 5K and Meghan’s Mile. 20 schools and youth groups participated in the World Championship Battle of the Belts. Sean’s Run also includes a tribute to victims and survivors of drunk driving and a Prevention Education Expo. Thomas Amell, Eastern New York Regional President for First Niagara in announcing the grants program noted, “First Niagara maintains a strong commitment to the communities in which we live and work. Sean’s Run and the Battle of the Belts is a great way to reach young people and underscore the importance of always using seatbelts. As Presenting Sponsor, First Niagara Bank continues our support of youth not only through our statewide mentoring program, but also efforts such as Sean’s Run. We are happy to be Presenting Sponsor because we believe that investing in the safety and well being of our youth makes good sense.” $120,500 has been contributed as grants and scholarships by Sean’s Run over the past 8 years thanks to generous sponsors and contributors. 81 programs that encourage safe driving have received grants from Sean’s Run and 58 college bound high school seniors have been awarded scholarships since the first event in 2002. Jeff French, Chairman of Sean’s Run, said “Thanks to First Niagara we are able to again offer this opportunity and an innovative approach to reduce the number of teens who fail to use their seatbelts.” The Battle of the Belts seatbelt buckling contest involves teams of four teens or ‘tweens who run to a 4-door car and quickly get into their seats. They all buckle up, raise their hands in the air and a Referee shouts "Rotate!" They unbuckle, get out, run clockwise to the next seat, get in, and buckle up again. The team with the fastest time, after the 4th buckle, is declared the winner. There are awards for the fastest teams, for teams with the loudest cheering sections, best t-shirts and best team names. Sean’s Run was founded in 2002 following the tragic death of Sean Patrick French, a 17-year old Chatham High School junior, honor roll student, community volunteer and record-setting athlete who was killed on January 1, 2002, as a passenger on a drunk-driving car crash. This tragedy prompted the enactment of Sean’s Law on January 1, 2003 that requires the suspension of a license upon the first arrest of a 16 or 17 year old on drunken driving charges. Sean’s Run Committee Sets 2010 Date June 24, 2009 — The Organizing Committee of the annual Sean’s Run Presented by First Niagara Bank recently conducted their annual meeting, reported accomplishments and elected their officers responsible for leading the group’s work in planning and producing the 2010 Sean’s Run. The committee set Sunday, April 25, 2010 as the date for the 9th Sean’s Run and also reported a record 1,371 entrants this past April. Total entries have more than tripled in the past four years. Participants, young and old, runners and walkers, came from throughout Columbia County and the capital region. Results, photos and a complete listing of entrants are posted at www.SeansRun.com. The Committee reports having earned and given away $120,050 as scholarships to graduating seniors and as grants to schools and youth groups. Officers for the ensuing year include Jeff French, General Chairman, Carol Goold, Vice Chair, Joanne Doyle and Tammi Menegio serving as Co-Treasurers, Mark French as Secretary and Jenna Fredericks, Student Liaison from Chatham High School. Emily Kinnicut and Ryan Behrens, students at Chatham High School, were elected to the Honorary Board of Directors. |
