February 2012 Volume 25 Number 4 - Our Town | St. James, NY

Friends of Karen, a tri-state organization
that has helped thousands
of families with children
diagnosed with cancer and other
life-threatening illnesses for more
than 34 years, is organizing their
team for the Walk/run for friends
of Karen at the long Island
Marathon, on Saturday and Sunday,
May 5 and 6, 2012 at Eisenhower
Park in East Meadow. Proceeds
from the event will help Friends of
Karen in their continuing efforts to
provide emotional, financial and
advocacy support to their families.
The Walk/Run for Friends of
Karen was started in 2007 with 25
participants and spearheaded by
Evelyn Anderson, a Friends of
Karen parent who wanted to run a
half marathon to honor her son,
Luke, diagnosed with leukemia as
a toddler and now enjoying his
days in elementary school. Last
year, more than 220 walkers and
runners joined the team and more
than $340,000 has been raised for
the organization. From its inception,
Suffolk County Legislator
Nowick and Energy Gym of St.
James owners Michael and Trevor
Tucci and Michael Fox have supported
Friends of Karen.
Don’t pass up this wonderful opportunity
to help Friends of Karen
in their efforts to assist their very
special families who turn to them in
their time of need. For more information,
please visit www.friendsofkaren.org
and click on the photo
of the participants or call 631-473-
– 24 –
I N T H E N E W S
Walk/Run For Friends of Karen at The Long Island Marathon
Saturday, May 5 & Sunday, May 6
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Suffolk County Legislator Lynne C. Nowick and the owners of Energy Gym, located
in St. James, recently announced their support of the annual 5K Walk/Run
for Friends of Karen. Pictured at Energy Gym in St. James are (L-R): Michael Tucci,
co-owner of Energy Gym; Angie Lavrenchik, trainer; Suffolk County Legislator
Lynne C. Nowick; Nancy Mariano, regional director of Friends of Karen; Andrea
Kaplan, volunteer at Friends of Karen; Daniel Moreno, trainer, Trevor Tucci, coowner
of Energy Gym; Patricia Conway, special events/community affairs coordinator;
and Michael Fox, co-owner of Energy Gym.
1768, ext. 303.
Friends of Karen is a children's
charity that serves children from
birth to 21 who are diagnosed with
life-threatening illnesses. The organization
serves the tri-state area.
Last year, the organization helped
more than 1,300 children with
services through their Family Support
Program.
Began in 1978 when family
friends came to the aid of a couple
and their 16 year old daughter,
OUR TOWN • FEBRUARY 2012
Karen, who was terminally ill. A
fund-raising campaign for medical
and other costs enabled Karen to
spend her precious last days at
home surrounded by loving family
and friends. Karen, and the mission
of Friends of Karen, which is to provide
emotional, financial and advocacy
support to families with
children diagnosed with life-threatening
illnesses, has never been forgotten.
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