The planning wheels are turning very fast for Saturday’s Russ Long Bikeathon. The benefit raises funds for a scholarship in his name.“In 1990, Akron police officer Russ Long was involved in a high-speed accident during a vehicular pursuit,” his former partner, Gary Webb, wrote. Long is paralyzed from the neck down.“Ride any distance between 10-100 miles,” Webb instructs. “To support the scholarship fund, we do ask civilian riders to collect $100 and police officers to collect $200 in sponsorship money. If not able to ride, please support us financially with a donation. Any amount is appreciated and a business or individual will be listed as an official sponsor with a donation of at least $200 or $100, respectively. Please make checks payable to the 2011 Russ Long Bikeathon and mail to: Akron Police Credit Union, 1570 Akron-Peninsula Road Suite 2, Akron, 44313.”The scholarship is for a dependent of any police officer who rode in the event previously, Webb said. “This year we gave three $1,000 scholarships.”Interested in riding or sponsoring? Please contact Webb at gwebb864@hotmail.com or Tony Starvaggi at astarvaggi@neo.rr.com.Run in son’s memoryErin and Shawn Thorns-bury are using the tragedy of their infant son’s death to teach other families about congenital diaphragmatic hernia and to raise research dollars in an effort to prevent others from suffering the same sad fate.The Thornsburys are holding a 5K and kids fun run Saturday at Green High School’s stadium. “I lost my son Max to a birth defect called congenital diaphragmatic hernia. It occurs in 1 in every 2,500 births and yet no one knows about it,” Erin Thornsbury said.“CDH occurs when the diaphragm fails to form, allowing abdominal organs into the chest cavity and preventing lung growth. Fifty percent of babies diagnosed with CDH do not survive.“Max was only 54 days.”The kids fun run gets under way at 8:30 a.m., followed by the 5K at 9 a.m. Cost is $15 for kids (13 and under); $20 for others (14 and older) or $25 on race day. Also on the menu are a bounce house, photo booth and vendors, including Tupperware (with 100 percent going to the Max Richard Thornsbury Foundation). Participants are encouraged to eat from noon to 5 p.m. at Legends in Green, which is donating 20 percent of the sales to the foundation.For information please email erinthornsbury@yahoo.com or visit www.facebook.com/MaxCDHpage or www.maxrichard
thornsbury.org. Cousins raise fundsBig, beautiful bouquets to Kids & More Kids 4 Coleman, a group of cousins, who recently raised more than $9,200 for Coleman Adult Day Services in Ravenna as a way of continuing the charitable legacy of their grandparents, Rosemarie and Steve Mandalari.The fundraiser, in its third year, was a dessert extravaganza with a Breakfast at Tiffany’s theme, featuring a huge array of desserts and appetizers, silent auction and 50/50 raffle. All proceeds went to support Coleman Adult Day Services’ programs and therapeutic activities, assistance with personal care and healthful meals.The seven original cousins — Lauren, A.J. and Stephen Spalding (children of Julie and Alan Spalding); Frank and Maria Bowen (children of Joyce and Jim Bowen); and Rachel and Regina Reilly (children of Jackie and Bill Reilly) — were joined this time by Kyle Quinn, Ben Grandy, Erica Leo, Alyssa Marva, Noah Hobrath and Aubrey Polansky,The cousins raised more than $5,600 the first year and more than $6,500 the second.Winter gear collectionDon Sitts and Stephanie Bendel of Don Sitts Auto Group are sponsoring Project Caring Coats, with a strong assist from the Silver Lake and Cuyahoga Falls police departments, to benefit low-income children referred by the Cuyahoga Falls and
Woodridge school systems.Gently used winter coats, gloves, mittens, hats and boots can be dropped off at Don Sitts Auto Group, 2461 Front St., Cuyahoga Falls, or at the Silver Lake and Cuyahoga Falls police departments (lobby area).Sgt. Dann M. Nivens, village of Silver Lake, said Sitts “is throwing in an incentive to help the children of our area. For every gently used winter coat, gloves, hats and winter boots that are donated as a package, Mr. Sitts is going to give the donor a certificate good for a free oil filter and oil change at his auto group. The recipient will be able to call and schedule an appointment for service.“In addition, Jim and Theresa Croyle, owners of White Swan and Quality Cleaners [with locations in Tallmadge, Stow and Cuyahoga Falls], have donated their services to launder and dry clean all of the donated products.”Drop-off deadline is Oct. 24, with distribution scheduled for Oct. 29 at the Cuyahoga Falls Natatorium.For information, please email Sgt. Dann M. Nivens at dmn604@villageofsilverlake.com.Golf outing plannedThe Kelly Reeves Memorial Golf Outing is set for Sept. 16 (not Sept. 25, as earlier mentioned) at Oak Knolls Golf Course, 6700 State Route 43, Kent.The $125 (prepaid) fee includes 18 holes of golf, cart rental, lunch, dinner, all beverages, a gift and prizes. Check is at 9 a.m. Mixed scramble with a 10 a.m. shotgun start.The event honors the memory of Kelly Reeves, who died Dec. 18, 2002. Her parents, Cathy and Bob Reeves of Munroe Falls, are doing all that they can to help other parents heal from their grief. All proceeds go to establishing Kelly’s Grief Center at Counseling for Wellness in Kent, set to open in October. Please make checks payable to Kelly Reeves Memorial Foundation and mail to 511 N. River Road, Munroe Falls, 44262. For information, please email creeves1019@sbcglobal.net.Jewell Cardwell can be reached at 330-996-3567 or emailed at jcardwell@thebeaconjournal.com.