May 7, 2014:  The Bronxville School PTA is once again organizing the James E. Kearney Run for Fun on Memorial Day Weekend, and co-chairs Lia Gravier and Courtney Burgin have added a new twist this year.

After the 2.5 mile run/walk through Bronxville neighborhoods on Saturday, May 24, the PTA will host a kids' dash on the school track. "The kids' dash will give younger families a way to get involved in this amazing race," Lia said. All participants in the kids' dash will receive medals and T-shirts.

The main event, of course, will be the James E. Kearney Run for Fun, with runners lining up at the flagpole at the Pondfield Road entrance of the school at 8:45 am. As many as 400 adults and children have participated in past years, and Lia and Courtney are hoping for a big turnout this year.

This is the tenth year the race has been sponsored by the James E. Kearney Foundation to honor the memory of Bronxville High School graduate James E. Kearney ('94) and his belief in athletics as a tool to face hardship. A former winner of the Run for Fun, James was running 10 miles a day before work to prepare for the New York marathon when he was diagnosed with primary brain cancer. In May of 2003, just two weeks after his second brain surgery, he won a second-place trophy in the Bronxville Run for Fun. Despite his illness, he ran every single day--until he could no longer run. He died in March of 2004.

This year, members of the Kearney family will sign racers in, help start the race, and hand out prizes. As it has in the past, the foundation will donate race proceeds to the Bronxville School PTA. The Bronxville Running Company will donate water for the runners.

Register online at https://register.chronotrack.com/reg/form?eventID=8302. If you decide at the last minute that you are going to be in town, you can preregister in person at the Bronxville Running Company on Friday, May 23, from noon to 6:00 pm or the morning of the race starting at 8:00 am at the Bronxville School flagpole on Pondfield Road. Advance registration is $25. Same-day registration is $35.

"As the saying goes, it takes a village to make this race happen," Lia said. Thirty-five people typically volunteer to make sure runners can get through the course safely. They keep traffic off the street as runners pass and offer cheers and smiles. Lia's husband, Joseph, will head up the bike captains who ride the course during the race. To volunteer for the safety detail, email Lia at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

"When I was asked last year to organize the 2013 race, I was really honored," Lia said. "I'm a runner and was really excited to be able to volunteer my time doing something I love." She said she volunteered again this year because she "was really amazed at the incredible support of our community." Lia won't run the race, but her three children, Olivia, age 13, Jules, age 11, and Wyatt, age 7, will all run. So will her inlaws, RoseAnne and Joe Gravier.

Courtney, who moved to Bronxville last August from London, said that she heard people talking about the PTA's Memorial Day celebration and wanted to be involved. "When I met Lia, her enthusiasm for the Run for Fun was contagious, and I immediately wanted to work with her," she said.

Courtney said her entire family plans to run, including her son, Wilder, who won the Elementary School Memorial Day logo contest and will get to see the logo he designed on T-shirts and baseball caps the PTA will sell this year. Her husband and two sons will run the race. Her daughter will run the 75-yard first graders' dash on the track. "Come on out and join us!" she said.

For a full schedule of PTA events over the Memorial Day weekend, please go to www.bronxvillepta.org.

Pictured here (L to R):  Co-chairs Lia Gravier and Courtney Burgin.

Photo courtesy Francine Schwadel, Publicity Co-Chair, Bronxville School PTA