Run for Jon marks 35 years

BY ROBIN CAUDELL

Press-Republican

PERU — The 35th Annual Run for Jon will be held Aug. 23 at the Forrence Orchards, Mannix Road.

Registration is from 3:304:45 p.m. The event starts at 5 p.m with a .5 mile kids fun run. At 5:20 p.m., a 2.5 mile cross-county run begins as as a 1.25 mile non-competitive walk. The event is presented by Donlan Wealth Management.

“I have run in every single Run for Jon going back, well, 35 years now I guess,” Matt Medeiros, race director, said. “I was 5 or 6 years old at the time. My father was the track and field coach and cross-country coach at Saranac. The race was put on for a local family whose son was dealing with cancer. His coach at Peru wanted to put on a fundraising race to kind of help offset the cost of transportation, all that type of stuff, for his family. When the former race directors, Scott Woodward, who passed away in 2016, and Mark Elmore, who moved out of the area just around 2006/2007, I kind of was like I can’t let this race go by the wayside and not step and come the race director. So for the last 10 years, I have been the race director.”

Before the run’s second year, Jonathan Evans passed away.

“His family decided to keep the event going, so that way other families in the area could benefit. It helps families in the tri-county area, so Franklin, Essex, Clinton. It offsets the variety of things that insurance won’t cover like ferry fares, gas, hotel rooms, that type of stuff,” Medeiros said.

Every year, Run for Jon averages between $6,000 and $8,000.

“I would say at least over the last 10 years, we have made anywhere between $60,000 and $80,000. We’ve helped numerous families over the years.”

Last year, a field of runners, walkers, baby joggers and three-person teams once again participated to raise money for the Jonathan Evans Memorial Fund, the proceeds of which benefit local families who have children with serious medical needs.

It began in 1991 to help the family of Jonathan Evans of Peru with the financial demands of his cancer treatment. The event attracts approximately 300 participants each year, according to a press release. This event is sanctioned by the Adirondack Association of the U.S.A. Track and Field Association.

Direct donations and sponsorships are accepted. There are five levels of sponsorship: MacIntosh ($1000+), Gala ($750-$999), Empire ($500$749), Cortland ($250-$499) and Honeycrisp ($100$249).

Event organizers seek items and/or gift certificates to be donated for fan favorite prize give-a-way that is held prior to the award ceremony.

“The race is a 2.5-mile course through the orchard on Mannix Road,” Medeiros said. “The course has changed over the years because of the removal and planting of new trees. The current course is as close to the original course as we could get it. There is 1.25mile walk, non-competitive. Over the last 15 years or so, a kids half-mile Fun Run has been added to the event.”

The Evans family remains heavily involved in the event.

“Two of their three other children are part of our board because we are a nonprofit organization now,” Medeiros said. “Their parents, Don and Shirley, are still heavily involved in passing out checks and all that type of stuff. It’s a great, fun, family event. We have a bunch of raffle prizes and handcrafted Apple Awards that we usually give out. It’s a great atmosphere. We would like to see the race grow, so we can help the area more.”

Run For Jon Inc is a 501©(3) charitable organization, EIN 45-2905801. All donations are deemed tax-deductible absent any limitations on deductibility applicable to a particular taxpayer.

For more information about the event, visit http:// www.runforjon.org.

Email: rcaudell@pressrepublican.com Twitter@RobinCaudell

PHOTO PROVIDED The Jonathan Evans Memorial Fund benefits local families who have children with serious medical needs.

PHOTO PROVIDED The Run for Jon course is through 2.5 miles of beautiful rolling Forrence Orchards in Peru.