On Saturday, April 13th, over 400 runners visited the windy hills of St. James, New York to race the famous Deepwell Farms path. With race director, James Remien at the helm, runners lined up and began their journey downhill around 10am that day. Guests and onlookers welcomed the fastest runners before the 40-minute mark with cheers, bagels, and water. Runners described the route as challenging, but it was all for a great cause.
Cynthia Lippe, RMHC New York Metro board member and philanthropist, is behind the first annual St. James 5 Mile Challenge with all funds raised directly benefitting the Capital Campaign to build a Ronald McDonald House at Stony Brook Children’s Hospital. Cynthia describes RMHC as an organization that is close to her heart, having been an avid supporter of the mission and goals of this organization for several decades.
“For a first-time event, the number and variety of sponsors were incredible. We had realtors, banks, insurance brokers, builders, landscapers, schools, local businesses, nonprofits, doctors, and family supporters. We had all walks of our community represented between the sponsors and the participants. All 387 Ronald McDonald Houses around the world are built by grassroots local community support, and today was the shining example of this sense of community.”
– Cynthia Lippe, St. James 5 Mile Challenge Organizer
Many of the sponsors for the St. James 5 Mile Challenge braved the cold and wind and set up sponsorship tables and donated their goods and services.
RMHC New York Metro cares for sick children and their families through its two Family Rooms at Stony Brook Medicine. Our programs provide respite care, showers, laundry, meals, and more for families caring for their sick or injured children. The Capital Campaign to build a Ronald McDonald House at Stony Brook would provide overnight accommodations to hundreds of families every year as they seek life-saving medical care at nearby hospitals.