Resource: Mary Grace Memorial Foundation - Race with Grace 2007 News Article

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Race with Grace 2007 News Article

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Race With Grace Raises Money For Cancer
Angela Huston | Special to The Gazette Posted: Tuesday, September 25th, 2007

Sept. 16 was a perfect fall Sunday to go for a run or walk, which is precisely what large numbers of people did at the third annual Race With Grace 5K Race/Fun Walk, whose mission is “To memorialize Mary Grace and to raise money to donate to cancer-related charities.”

Mary Grace, a young mother of three children, valiantly battled cancer for two years but lost to the dreaded disease Jan. 8, 2005. In her memory, The Mary Grace Memorial Foundation was formed by her husband and Foundation Director Mike Grace, and some of her closest friends in the spring of 2005 to help others in their fight against cancer.
The Race With Grace, which begins and ends in the Buehler’s River Styx parking area, is a family-oriented event with activities for the kids and babysitting for parents who need help while they run the race. Sponge Bob (aka Ben Hamel) and Gorilla (aka Matt Sweet) strolled through the crowd entertaining children. There were refreshments for runners and walkers, face painting for young and old alike and music provided by DJs Dave and Tom, the Music Men, Ltd. As in the past, the starters for the 5K race were Mike and Mary’s children: 14-year-old Allison, 12-year-old Tim and 6-year-old William. The timer was Dave Camerino.

Event sponsors who made the race possible were Nu-Di Corp., MelCap Partners LLC, Middle Market Investment Bankers/the Melchiorre family, Second Sole, Havel and Associates Inc. and Medina General Hospital/Jones Center. Other contributing sponsors were the Mike Meadows family, The Music Men, the Kayne and Dennis Hays family, 620 Corp., Gateway Animal Clinic, Seville Animal Clinic, Grace Brothers North Royalton Nursery, the Musgrave family, Hastings-Bedell Insurance, Drs. Evanko, Benninger and Schween, Warner Technology Inc., Elegant Essentials, Dorman-Farrell LLC, Drs. Jon and Dorene Ash, Dick Fritz/Tire and Brake Inc., Patrick Naples MD, SOS/Shelley’s Outside Services, South Court Dental Medicine Inc., B and K Café/Scoreboard Sports Café, Keller Williams Realty, Lori Schwarz Team, Buffalo Wild Wings of Medina, Knights of Columbus Council 4168, Lamar Advertising, The Health Plan, Sturgess Construction, Blue Heron Golf Course, River Styx Grille, Amazone Family Entertainment Center, FirstMerit Bank, Animal Medical Centre of Medina, Medina Community Magazine, Sweet Lawn Inc., Dr. Charles Pfister, Lewis Land Professionals Inc., County Roads Veterinary Service Inc., Buehler’s Food Market and Mootown Creamery. Tickets for baskets and a 50/50 raffle also were available.

Family members of Mike and Mary Grace were on hand to help in a variety of ways as they supported the cause. Mary’s parents, Nancy and Dick Fritz, and Mary’s sisters, Karen, Nancy, Jeannie, Andrea and Sue, and brothers Jerry, Mark and David all came for the race, along with aunt Mary Beth Esterburg. Mike’s parents, Joan and Don Grace, were there along with brothers and sisters-in-law Don and Erin Grace, Kevin and Katie Grace and Elizabeth Grace, grandchildren/ nieces and nephews Audra, Halle, Ryan and Caroline.
Others who came to participate, help or be supportive included Cindy Gerity, Kathy Jo Fronk, Marie Leachko, Judy Miller, Russ and Cheryl Sturgess, Joyce Michaels, Jess Kelner, Danene Beal, Ruth Etta Tender, Denise Vaca, David and Janie Parish with their nieces Angelica and Victoria Parish, Steve and Francine Durbin and their daughters Sara and Stephanie, Beth Vogelsong, Paula Midlik, Marty and Jane Norton Robinson, Patrick Norton, Stan and Barbara Sever, Halle Lombardi, Mark and Tanya Dorman and Mitzi Kerr.

Capably maneuvering on her crutches, Katie Quigley, who had planned to run, instead appeared dressed as a chicken (representing her parents’ Buffalo Wild Wings vendor’s stand), with a broken “drumstick” and cheered on the others. Members of the Pink Canaries, a group of breast cancer survivors, attended to help spur on the runners.
Prior to this year’s race, the Mary Grace Foundation had raised more than $80,000 and helped 48 families in their battles against cancer. Any patient/family (resident of Medina, Wayne, Stark, Ashland or Holmes counties), who is receiving active treatment for cancer or a cancer-related illness, and is in need of financial assistance that cannot be covered by insurance is eligible to apply for assistance from the foundation. Grant applications are available at www.marygracefoundation.com. Applications must include your social worker’s signature.
The foundation may be contacted at www.racewithgrace.com. It is 501(c)3, so all donations are tax-deductible. Send to: The Mary Grace Memorial Foundation, P.O. Box 1822, Medina, 44258.

Race With Grace
Winners of the third annual Race With Grace 5K Race/Fun Walk on Sept. 16 were:

Overall female winners — Michelle Farr, first place; Lauren Snell, second place; and Virginia Hudson, third place.
Overall male winners — Michael Iacafano, first place; Kevin Paradise, second place; and Steve Faust, third place.
Female 14 and younger — Magen Murphy, first place; Casey Midlik, second place; and Kayla Verhotz, third place.
Male 14 and younger — Bryan Midlik, first place; Steven Wilson, second place; and Mick Iacafano, third place.
Female 15 to 19 — Roxanne Melchiorre, first place; Sarah Sureck, second place; and Christine Briercheck, third place.
Male 15 to 19 — Patrick Fisher, first place; Aidan Dorman, second place; and Sam Illig, third place.
Female 20 to 24 — Correen Heighway, first place; Molly Scolla, second place; and Sarah Vizer, third place.
Male 20 to 24 — Anthony Mion, first place; Alex Marks, second place.
Female 25 to 29 — Keira Mellion, first place; Elizabeth Bugner, second place; and Carissa Bowlin, third place.
Male 25 to 29 — Todd Keiper, first place; Adam Havel, second place; and Kevin Coffee, third place.
Female 30 to 34 — Alicia Hornbeck, first place; Angela Cook, second place; and Alissa Marty, third place.
Male 30 to 34 — Neal Call, first place; Chris Martino, second place; and David Gale, third place.
Female 35 to 39 — Debra Rafferty, first place; Marsha Clifford, second place; and Courtney Baker, third place.
Male 35 to 39 — Matt Lanier, first place; Jeff LeBlanc, second place; and Mike Kilbane, third place.
Female 40 to 44 — Julie Voss, first place; Kim Martin, second place; and Amy Sutterleuty, third place.
Male 40 to 44 — Steve Marshall, first place; Thomas Schmidt, second place; and Al Melchiorre, third place.
Female 45 to 49 — Joanne Dejongh, first place; Judy Perpar, second place; and Janet Sproat, third place.
Male 45 to 49 — David Cooper, first place; Doug Klein, second place; and Gary Unsoonti, third place.
Female 50 to 54 — Maureen Cook, first place; Laura Matthews, second place; and Shannon Fisher, third place.
Male 50 to 54 — Mike Bates, first place; Jim Sprankle, second place; and John Douds, third place.
Female 55 and older — Jennifer Emch, first place; Nancy Danisek, second place; and Wendy Sloan, third place.
Male 55 and older — David Baecker, first place; Robert Tuneberg, second place; and Frank Pantuso, third place.