Anthony’s Red Shoe FUNd Run at Stony Brook University Raises Money for Ronald McDonald House in Suffolk County

On Sunday, October 13th, Stony Brook University hosted Anthony’s Red Shoe FUNd Run which raised money for the Capital Campaign to build a Ronald McDonald House in Suffolk County. The race took place on Stony Brook University campus to support the future Ronald McDonald House in Stony Brook. Set to open in 2026, the Stony Brook Ronald McDonald House will offer overnight accommodations, respite, and 24/7 care to families with ill children in Suffolk County.

Anthony’s Red Shoe FUNd Run was organized by Dr. Lisa Muratori, a professor at Stony Brook University School of Health Professions. It honored her late nephew, Anthony Petrocelli, who fought Ewing sarcoma as a patient at Stony Brook Children’s Hospital for two years.

Dr. Muratori and her family relied on the Ronald McDonald Family Room as a place to rest and re-charge while Anthony was in the hospital. Her experience with Ronald McDonald House Charities New York Metro and inspired her to organize a fundraising event for our Capital Campaign to build a Ronald McDonald House in Stony Brook.

Participants of Anthony’s Red Shoe FUNd Run. Photo by Mike White, via Greater Long Island.

Running toward a better future, together.

The 5k Run and 1 Mile Fun Run/Walk was made possible through teamwork among Stony Brook’s Programs: Public Health, the Department of Family, Population & Preventive Medicine, the Division of Student Affairs, the Auxiliary Services Association, and Stony Brook Children’s Hospital. About 200 participants registered. Teams included Stony Brook University Department of Physical Therapy (DPT) Team and the Pickleball Ladies 2024 Team. We welcomed a diverse group of students, faculty, administrators, and Long Island families. Everyone came together to support keeping families close in Suffolk County. The 5k race was won by 42-year-old Felipe Garcia from Port Jefferson, who finished in 20 minutes.

Lisa Muratori and the Petrocelli Family. Photo by Matt Tisdell via TBR News Media.

Keeping Families Close.

Before the race kicked off, Dr. Muratori introduced Dr. Stacy Gropack. Dr. Gropack is the dean of the School of Health Professions at Stony Brook, who spoke of the importance of having a Ronald McDonald House nearby when your child is going through a medical crisis.

“The Ronald McDonald house isn’t just a place to stay, it’s a place where families can find comfort, hope and [a] sense of normalcy during incredibly difficult, hard times,” Gropack said, “It would have been a really horrible experience for us [if not for the Ronald McDonald House] and we’d be financially unable to have provided [shelter] for ourselves to be able to support our family members.” – Dr. Gropack (Source: SBU Statesman)

Anthony Petrocelli

To learn more about our Capital Campaign to build a new Ronald McDonald House in Stony Brook, please click here. The Ronald McDonald House in Stony Brook begin construction in late 2024 with plans to open in 2026.

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