5K Run This Sunday For Middletown Boy, 11, Who Died Of Cancer

MIDDLETOWN, NJ — There will be a 5K in Middletown this Sunday in honor of Luca Iacono, a Middletown boy who died in November of 2019 from pediatric cancer. Luca was 11 years old and a student at Harmony Elementary School, where he was in the fifth grade.

The Iacono family spoke at the most recent Sept. 6 Middletown Township Committee meeting.

Said his mother, Michelle Iacono, at the meeting last Tuesday night:

"Our son Luca was diagnosed with Rhabdomyosarcoma in the summer of 2017. To hear the words your child has cancer is devastating. You never expect to hear those words for your own child. He fought to live life and enjoy every day to the fullest for over two years, until the cancer took over his body and he knew it was time to ah," — she became overwhelmed with emotion — "he took his last breath on November 17, 2019. He was 11."

"As a parent who watched their child have to leave this world when he had so much to live for, I always hope his name lives on. That people remember him as the athletic child he was and that they continue to speak his name. We are fortunate to have an entire community that allows that to happen every day."

The Love for Luca 5K is organized by Harmony Elementary families. All money raised from the 5K this Saturday will go to Infinite Love for Kids Fighting Cancer, which in turn will forward the funds to research fighting pediatric cancer.

"We know that Luca is smiling down and continues to live on," continued his mother. "We cannot wait to see Luca's memory bring our whole community together."

Here is Luca's obituary from Evergreen Funeral Home: https://www.evergreenmemorialf...

Here are details on the run:

5K Run Sunday, Sept. 18 8:30-10:00 a.m. starting at High School North. There will be limited or no access by vehicle to Tindall Park from Tindall Rd. All side streets off the main route will be closed until it is safe to open.

Hear Frank and Michelle Iacono speak: