By Helena McSherry

Dec. 6, 2023: In its seventeenth year, turnout for the Katie Welling Memorial Run/Walk was extraordinary. This beloved Thanksgiving tradition, which honors the memory of Katie Welling from Bronxville High School’s Class of 2002, was held in person on Saturday, November 25 and offered a virtual option for out-of-towners. The event, which benefits the Bronxville School Foundation, drew nearly 400 participants and donors.

With the help of more than forty community volunteers, the event also honored Tom Welling, Katie's dad who passed away in March 2022. Tom led the planning for Katie’s Run/Walk for fifteen years since its inception in 2007 and was a true friend and asset to the Bronxville community.  

Friends of the Welling family and community volunteers arrived at the Bronxville School early Saturday morning to help set up for the event and register participants. Helen Welling, as well as Kurt and Thomas, Jr. and their families, were in attendance and welcomed runners and walkers. “The love and support from so many friends of the Welling family is evident,” said the Bronxville School Foundation’s Chairperson Katie Shah. “We are so happy that we are able to come together each year to honor both Katie and Tom through this special event.” 

Despite the cold temperature, a cross-section of Bronxville residents, school families, current and former faculty, alumni, and friends of the Welling family gathered together to honor Katie and Tom. “As a current school parent and alum, it was so nice to see many new faces from the community and also alumni and friends of the Welling family come out for the event,” said Catherine Williams, the Foundation’s Alumni Chair.  

Guidance Counselor Jim Agnello from the Bronxville School, who has been a great friend and supporter of the Welling family for many years, shared opening remarks and kicked off the race on a bullhorn at the front entrance of the Bronxville School. “This is Bronxville’s finest event,” said Agnello. “Bronxville graduates, welcome back. You are always welcome here.”  As a special tribute this year, the Foundation added special bricks in the Alumni Walk to honor Tom and Helen Welling for all they have done to support the school and community.

With assistance from the Bronxville Police Department, community volunteers lined the race route through the village, many with their children as helpers.  The Ching family set up a large water table, and Jack Pasquale dressed up as Santa for the second year in a row to greet runners and walkers passing by.  Members of the Welling family and friends welcomed participants at the finish line, and Thomas Welling, Jr. handed out medals to the winners. 

The way that Bronxville’s school staff, alumni, community members, and town merchants supported the event was wonderful. “As they have in the past, many generous merchants contributed to the event,” said the Foundation’s Public Relations Chair, Sam Patterson. “We are grateful to Mrs. Morgan's Flower Shop, Tryforos & Pernice, Lange’s Deli, and Park Place Bagels for donating refreshments and flowers for the event and to the Bronxville Running Company for lending their space to us for registration and bib pick-ups the day before the event.” 

The live and virtual options allowed friends from far and wide to participate on Thanksgiving weekend. “Many friends come in person while others submit photos to show their virtual participation year after year and never miss it,” said Helena McSherry, the Foundation’s Executive Director. “It’s really beautiful to see that people are so committed to being part of this special event every year.”  Beyond the Bronxville area, people from California, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Texas showed their support. 

This year, the Foundation introduced a new competition, inviting all clubs and teams from the Bronxville School to participate, awarding a prize to the group with the largest participation rate.  The Girls’ Varsity Basketball team and the Spanish Club had great participation rates with members joining in person and virtually.  Marian Schaefer, a member of the Spanish Club, along with eleven of her family members completed the event virtually in Chicago.

Registrations and donations totaled more than $25,000. Thanks to the support of the Bronxville community, Katie’s Run/Walk has generated over $300,000 since its inception.  Contributions to Katie’s Run allow the Foundation to fund grants for facilities improvements and equipment, faculty training, curriculum development, and specialized programs at the Bronxville School.

The event was established by Katie Welling’s many friends and her family to commemorate her wonderful sense of humor, infectious laugh, and love of life. Katie died in an off-campus fire at Miami University in Ohio in 2005. She had just turned 21.

For more information on Katie’s Run/Walk and to view this year’s photo album and race time results, CLICK HERE.

Special thanks to Walker Liggitt for his photography.