Glen Cove boy's memory to live on at event

Nicholas Pedone, 7, with his parents, Nick and Josephine, in... — Nicholas Pedone, 7, with his parents, Nick and Josephine, in April 2013, one month before he lost his battle with cancer. Credit: Pedone family

By DAVID OLSONdavid.olson@newsday.comSeptember 4, 2015

The 3rd Annual Nicholas Pedone 5k run and walk on Sunday honors a 7-year-old Glen Cove boy who died of neuroblastoma cancer in 2013 and raises money for childhood cancer awareness and services.

Money raised from the event will go to the Nicholas Pedone Foundation, said Josephine Pedone, 42, the mother of Nicholas, who died in May 2013.

"We created the foundation to keep Nicholas' memory alive and to help other children," she said.

The foundation provides items such as care packs -- with blankets, backpacks and stuffed animals -- for kids in cancer treatment, she said. The foundation also is planning to donate eight 46-inch televisions with Xbox One game consoles and game libraries to the children's oncology unit at Winthrop-University Hospital in Mineola, Pedone said.

Last year, about 1,000 runners and walkers raised $75,000, she said.

Among the participants this year will be Mayor Reginald Spinello, city council members and city employees, city spokeswoman Lisa Travatello said.

The 5k begins at 9 a.m. at Glen Cove High School. A quarter-mile fun run for children 10 and under is at 8:15 a.m. Check-in opens at 7 a.m. For more information, and to register, go to www.fighthardsmilebig.org.