Family's Long Island Marathon weekend a race for others' lives
The Anderson family and friends at Sunday's Long Island Marathon at Eisenhower Park in East Meadow. From left are, Todd Anderson, Justin Leclair, Ciara Anderson, Michael Bauer, Luke Anderson and Evelyn Anderson. Credit: Newsday/Brianne Ledda
Running is more than just a hobby for the Andersons.
The Connecticut family, originally from Setauket, has been running in Long Island Marathon events for 18 years — since Luke Anderson, now 22, completed chemotherapy for leukemia when he was 4, with help from Friends of Karen, a nonprofit that offers aid to families caring for children with life-threatening illnesses.
“They were there, financially and emotionally, the whole three and a half years he was on chemo,” said Evelyn Anderson, 51, Luke’s mother. “When he was done with treatment, I just felt like I wanted to give back to them.”
To pay it forward, Anderson organized a team of runners to raise money and awareness for the nonprofit during this year's weekend of festivities, which concluded with Sunday's marathon at Eisenhower Park in East Meadow, as well as a half-marathon.
With the Andersons’ help, the nonprofit had raised about $70,000 by Sunday afternoon, organizers said, and $1.5 million since the running team started nearly two decades ago.
The organization, based in upstate North Salem, supports around 500 families each year in the tristate area, executive director Judy Factor said.
More than 3,700 athletes ran in events from Friday to Sunday, according to online race statistics. Besides the Sunday marathon and half-marathon, events included a 5k race Friday night, as well as a 10k and 1k Kids Fun Run on Saturday.
About 25,000 people were expected to have attended the weekend festivities, including the 51st marathon, when the final count is determined, Nassau County Parks Commissioner Darcy Belyea said.
More than 200 athletes competed across the events for Friends of Karen, including around 175 runners in the Friday night 5k, said Leslie Bellisimo, the nonprofit’s regional director for Long Island and other parts of the metropolitan area.
Another 15 or so ran in the Saturday 10k and 22 in the group took part in the kids run. Eight members ran in Sunday's half-marathon and one competed in the marathon, Bellisimo said.
And runners sporting the nonprofit’s yellow jersey weren’t the only ones running for more than just enjoyment.
For Zack Olszewski, 23, of Audubon, New Jersey, the race represents a way to honor his grandfather and uncle, who both died in 2017.
“They always loved to watch me and they were big runners, so they were big fans,” said Olszewski, who wore baby blue running garb covered in yellow birds.
For one marathoner, the race was just a warm-up ahead of a longer run. Elaine Acosta, 49, of Somerset, New Jersey, is training for a 110-mile race across mountainous terrain in Poland, her 19th event of that length.
Acosta said she's in it for the “challenge.” After running a marathon, she wanted to see “how much further” she could go.
“I try to do a race in Europe every year. It’s a great way to see places,” Acosta said. “It’s a good way to meet people too.”
Luke Anderson was among the athletes running the half-marathon for Friends of Karen on Sunday, along with his sister Ciara Anderson, 20, and her boyfriend Justin Leclair, 20.
Anderson has recovered from leukemia. He's a December 2023 graduate of Central Connecticut State University and has started his career with a company in the state. He began running in Long Island Marathon events at 13, with a 5k.
He’s run races every year since.
“It definitely feels good to be able to give back,” he said.
Brianne Ledda covers the Town of Islip for Newsday. She previously covered Southold and Greenport for The Suffolk Times and is a graduate of Stony Brook University.
