Mahwah September 26, 2012 THE VILLADOM TIMES IV • Page 9 Olympian gets foundation off to running start the day to the memory of Mayor Richard Martel. To him, the Mahwah Run exemplified what our community was all about.” Mayor Martel passed away last year after battling a respiratory illness. The 10K will begin at 8:30 a.m. and the 5K will begin at 10:15, with award ceremonies following each race. The Kid Run will begin at noon, following the 11:30 a.m. warm up with Adkins. (continued on page 12) Left: Participants at last year’s run. Right: Olympic gold medalist Derrick Adkins. Olympic gold medalist Derrick Adkins will make a special guest appearance at the Fifteenth Annual Mahwah Schools Foundation 10K, 5K and Kid Run. Each fall, the MSF launches the school year with these races, which are held in Darlington County Park in Mahwah. This year’s event will be held Sunday, Oct. 7. Registration is now open and pre-registration is encouraged for all races at Active.com or www.themsf.org. In addition to the 10K, 5K and Kid Run, the event also features family activities, live entertainment, food, and the Trails to Wellness health fair. This year, Adkins will be on hand to sign T-shirts, pose for pictures, and help the Kid Run participants warm up. Adkins, who was the winner of the gold medal in the 400 meter hurdles in Atlanta, is excited to spend time with the future Olympians, and said he is looking forward to participating in the races with them. The Mahwah Run began in 1997 as the brainchild of several district parents and teachers, including Ramapo Ridge School language arts teacher Lynda Zaccone and her husband, Tom, who still presides over the start of every race. A USATF NJ sanctioned race, the Mahwah Run attracts runners of all skill levels and ages from serious runners who are timed using electronic chips, to preschoolers running their first “pre-K.” Over 700 runners and hundreds of volunteers, spectators, and members of the educational and business communities are expected to attend the day’s events. “Community support is a key part of the success of the Mahwah Schools Foundation,” said MSF President Prema Moorthy. “This race is a great opportunity to bring together our community and show a large audience our commitment to ensuring our children remain on the cutting edge of education. This year, we are particularly pleased to dedicate