District Wide Run Club - EpicKidsRun26.2! Runs Final Mile at Short Beach

“Give wings to your inspiring vision and start moving towards your dream. Vision in life with spirit of hope paves the way for greater achievement.” A. Sinha

Last summer Lordship School parents, and co-founders Dung Stafford and Cynthia Casinelli, took those words and made them a reality, imagining a beautiful spring day at Stratford’s Short Beach filled with new and experienced runners who would have worked all school year to reach this point -- their final leg of a 26.2 mile journey.

The vision became a reality on Friday, June 5th, when over 250 students, who back in October committed to EpicKidsRun26.2!, a weekly hour-long program where students learned how to run along with how to properly train and feed the body for such a sport, gathered at the starting blocks. The positive energy and comradery was contagious and inspiring. Each child who passed through the finish line which marked their 26.2 mile wore a grin from ear to ear while family members wiped the tears of pride off their cheeks. 20 beautiful trophies were awarded to the top runners but all students who crossed the finish line earned a medal and knew deep inside that they were winners. There were numerous stories of children who had never participated in a run club or in a sport, that through this experience discovered a new found talent. Even more rewarding were the stories from the parents of how they were inspired by their children to get healthier by improving their nutrition and exercising more regularly. “We were inspired to make these differences in our community through EpicKidsRun26.2!,but to see it all come to fruition was overwhelming.” Stafford and Casinelli added.

The Stratford PTA Council and Superintendent Dr. Janet Robinson approved this event at the beginning of the 2014-15 School Year. It was well received by all district elementary schools with participants and parent volunteers involved in running the weekly program. “We thank all the volunteers, coaches, sponsors and administrators who helped make this happen, and we look forward to a bigger and better program next year!” Stafford concluded.

Photo 1 - And they’re off!
Photo 2 - Coach Rebecca Zukowski, 6th grade winner Adithya Prabakaran, Coach Rob Ciotti and Coach Karen Burke from the Academy

Photo 3 - Nichols School Runners and Coaches
Photo 4 - Overall Kindergarten Winner Avery Schack with Coaches Dung Stafford and Cyndi Casinelli

Coaches Photo - From left to right Karen Burke, Rebecca Zukowski, Dung Stafford, Cyndi Casinelli, Tara Sunderland, Rosa Judge, Kyri Pierre, Jennifer Wegrzyn, Vanessa Todisco, Amanda Murray
Front rowDan Cry and Rob Ciotti
Not shown Kyle Siljamaki and Kristen Stauber