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Friday, March 29, 2024

Run for Reading highlights literacy, fitness & family

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Run for Reading Race Director Mary Bazan considers every participant in the 5K run-walk fundraiser a winner. She said she’s continually amazed at how many lives have been touched by the fundraiser, noting how Pat and Tom Nicarico have turned the event into a positive way to honor the life of their daughter. From the volunteers who work throughout the year, to the set-up and take-down teams, to City workers who help mark the route, to the families who sign up to run, Bazan said everyone, no matter what age, who comes together makes a difference for the Jeanine Nicarico Memorial Literacy Fund.

The 2012 Run for Reading started promptly at 7:30AM on the third Sunday in May as it has for the past 11 years. This year’s run-walk was held at River Woods Elementary School on a sunny morning with temperatures in the 70s.

In the end, it can be written that only one individual can be first over the finish line in the men’s category and in the women’s category—giving one of them the distinction as the overall champion. For 2012, first- place men’s and overall winner went to Brian Scott. First-place in the women’s category was Kim Kastner.

According to emcee Bob Fieseler, approximately 850 individuals participated. Families ran together, students from Districts 203 and 204 organized groups, and individuals filled nine age categories, including 70-plus for men and women.

As with every event, curious folks can find as many personal stories as there are participants who come out to support charitable causes.

One such story this year featured a side-event with a pony from the Plantation Equestrian Center, located at 27W371 Knoch Knolls Road. Youngsters could pet the pony and have their photos taken.  A sign requested donations  to benefit the Jeanine Nicarico Memorial Literacy Fund.

Run for Reading Committee member Melissa Starr remembers riding horses with Jeanine Nicarico, known to her as J.J., in the early 1980s when Plantation Equestrian Center was the Maple Lane Equestrian Center then located in Yorkville.   According to Starr, when they had the idea to create a fundraiser featuring the pony at the family-friendly run,  “We thought, what a great way to remember J.J.!”

The Run for Reading route, beginning and ending at River Woods, followed a USA Track and Field-certified course through the River Woods, Farmington and Walnut Ridge neighborhoods.

Run for Reading supports a literacy fund in memory of Jeanine Nicarico, who is remembered for learning to love reading after overcoming reading difficulties and challenges before her tragic death at age 10 in 1983.

The Jeanine Nicarico Memorial Literacy Fund awards grants to individual educators and/or entire local schools to promote and provide enriched literacy experiences.

“I’m just happy we have a chance to bring the community together for a fundraising event that supports literacy, fitness and family,” said Bazan. “I’m so grateful for everyone’s help and this day.”

For more information, visit www.nicaricoliteracyfund.org.

P.S. Click on any photo to enlarge. Then use the arrow to advance the photo gallery.  Thanks for reading. Visit this Web site again soon.  It’s updated with good news and other news you can use every day.

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PN Editor
PN Editor
An editor is someone who prepares content for publishing. It entered English, the American Language, via French. Its modern sense for newspapers has been around since about 1800.

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