Our Lady of Mercy to host charity 5K

Our Lady of Mercy will hold their seventh annual Tower Run on Saturday, Oct. 19 at 9 a.m. at the school’s campus in Syosset. The 5K run is held in honor of Mary Jo Lorello, a former health teacher and coach in the athletic department who, despite being a non-smoker, died of lung cancer in July 2008, according to OLMA art teacher Chrissy Shelly.

The run, which began one year prior to Lorello’s death, was dedicated to the teacher after her passing. A portion of the money raised by the run will benefit Cancer Care of Woodbury. The organization provides “telephone, online and face-to-face counseling, support groups, education, publications and financial and co-payment assistance” to cancer patients, according to the organization’s website.

Registration, which starts at 8 a.m. is $30. Proceeds will also help fund school programs, such as field trips and the purchase of a minibus, according to Shelly.

The 5K run will take participants from the school’s parking lot, down neighboring Convent Road and the surrounding side streets.

“It’s a great event,” OLMA Director of Communications Val Gigante said. “We had over 800 people last year between students, alumni, and people in the community. We try to keep (Lorello’s) sprit alive with the run.”

All OLMA sports teams will run in the event, Gigante said. However, participation is not limited to those involved in the school.

“Anyone can do it,” Gigante said. “We’ve had people pushing stroller and people with their dogs. It’s a very laid back run. But it is a timed race, so we do get people who are trying to accumulate mileage. It’s a big mix.”