D’Amico Fun Run a success

Over 200 people showed up to raise awareness for the Boys & Girls Club in Queens at the annual D’Amico Fun Run held earlier this month in Astoria Park.
“It was an entire community event,” said organizer Gloria D’Amico, Queens County Clerk. “Best of all, the heavens were cooperative and we had good weather.”
Not everyone had to run the three kilometers during the event, D’Amico said, adding that many chose to walk the distance instead. The runners were divided into different competitive divisions, with participants vying for best time.
D’Amico said she chose to walk the route and that finishing with a good time was “not a goal.”
Many children also participated in the event, D’Amico said. She recalled watching her four-year-old grandson run, “pumping his arm and legs” as the family cheered him on.
The event not only featured a race, but had other activities for the children as well. There was a moon-bounce, a DJ, and healthy refreshments for the kids.
The Salah M. Hassanein Variety Boys & Girls Club of Queens and Consolidated Edison co-sponsored the event and provided participants with T-shirts and awards for the winners.
The fun run, D’Amico explained, is not a fundraiser for the Boys & Girls Club, located in Astoria, but a chance to raise awareness about what the organization aims to accomplish. The center features tutoring, athletic spaces, and game rooms for youngsters.
The fun run is an annual event held in mid-September, D’Amico said. She added that every year there are more participants and she expects to see more people next year.