By Rob Potter
LIVINGSTON MANOR — September 15, 2006 — The organizers of the Jamie Bertholf Memorial 5K Walk/Run were hoping to have 50 people participate in last Saturday’s inaugural event.
They were pleasantly surprised when 215 people showed up at Livingston Manor Central School to walk or run in the event dedicated to Bertholf, the 15-year-old Manor girl who tragically lost her life during the June floods.
During the summer, members of the LMCS Class of 2008 and their advisors, Liz Cook and Jaime Snow, planned the event as a way to honor and remember their friend and classmate.
While many of the 215 runners and walkers were from the local community, others came from all over.
“This is such a great turnout,” said Barb Smith, a LMCS teacher who was helping out at the event.
“Livingston Manor is such a close community, but we also have people here from all over Sullivan County, Orange County, Dutchess County, Connecticut and New Jersey,” Snow said.
The first two people to cross the finish line were Greg Lewis and Jenny Green, respectively. Lewis, a sophomore, and Green, a junior, are both members of the Manor cross country team.
Both enjoyed running the course, especially since it was for such a great cause.
“It was fun,” Lewis said. “Everybody did a good job with this event.”
“It was great to get out and compete in the race,” Green commented. “It’s nice that so many of Jamie’s friends and family members are here today.”
In addition to the walk and run, the day’s activities included food, games and activities for children, an appearance by Ronald McDonald and a raffle that included several nice prizes.
Betty Fisk of Livingston Manor raised the most money among the race participants. She collected a total of $300.
“I got donations from a lot of family members and friends,” she said. “I want to thank them all.”
Sponsors of the event included:
Above – Roscoe Diner, Misty Acres Farm Corp., Lynn Spear, Livingston Manor Central School PTSO, Orange County Rentals, Universal Uniforms, Resort, Peez Leweez, Pepsi, Brian Cavanagh Race Consulting, Thunder 102, Danny & Betty Fisk (with individual donations), Sullivan County Sheriff’s Department
Platinum – Roger Lynker Excavating & Logging, Fiddle’s Dari King, Bison Hill Rentals, Freihofer’s, Lanza’s, Ward Engineering, Frost Valley YMCA, Will Hardware, Times-Herald Record, Runners’ World, Marty’s Furniture & Appliances, George & Shirley Fulton, Dr. Don Simkin, Hoos Truck Company #2, Manor Hose Company #1, McDonald’s, Pizza Hut, The Trading Post, Time Warner Cable, The First National Bank of Jeffersonville, Sullivan County Democrat, M&M Auto, The Towne Crier, Livingston Manor Volunteer Ambulance Corps, Country Stores, Tennanah Lake Golf & Tennis Club
Gold – Peck’s Market, Lauren & Marty Miller, Viv’s, Liberty Fitness Center, Morgan Outdoors, Dr. Livingston’s Wines & Spirits, Medicap Pharmacy, Livingston Manor Development Corporation, Hamish & Henry Bookstore, Jeff Roberts Land Surveying.
Silver – Jane and Gary L. Mann, Raimondo’s Restaurant & Pizzeria, Catskill Flies of Roscoe, The Outlet Florist & Gift Shop, Shop Rite
Bronze – Catskill Grocers, Exxon Mobil, Buffalo Zach’s Café.
Snow noted that everyone really came together to honor Jamie Bertholf’s memory.
“This is such a great way for the whole community to remember Jamie,” Snow said.
Based on the success of Saturday’s event, Cook, Snow and the other organizers have already decided to hold the second annual Jamie Bertholf Memorial 5K Walk/Run. They will host that event during the second weekend of September 2007.