Conor McKenna Foundation Holds Successful First Event

The family and friends of the late sophomore Spring-Ford student Conor McKenna held the first formal event for The Conor McKenna Foundation on Homecoming Saturday, Oct. 22.

According to Conor's father, Tim McKenna, 460 runners and walkers made it out for the Race for Hope - a 5K to raise funds for the Foundation, which is aimed at annually giving a senior Spring-Ford student who has battled adversity a scholarship, in light of Conor's fight with the rare cancer sarcoma. Conor passed away in March after being diagnosed in July 2009.

"He played on Spring-Ford’s baseball team, he played on the American Legion team for Spring-Ford," Tim said. "He was very close to all his teammates. After all this happened, there was a big reaction at the all the schools seeing that we kind of said we’ve got to do something to keep this going."

"The goal of the foundation was to give a scholarship to a student, starting with Conor’s class [the class of 2013], who has showed the ability to battle back against some adversity – whether it be health, family or school related and recognize that there are other teenagers out there that are battling against something in their lives. So, we’ll give a scholarship award to recognize some graduating senior to battle back against adversity in their lives like Conor did with this whole cancer."

Tim and his wife Maureen, along with the help of Conor's friends and other family members, make up the board of directors of the foundation. Aside from a t-shirt sale at the school shortly after his passing, this has been the only fundraiser held for the foundation to date.

"Conor was an athlete, so we figured a run would be a good way to start it off – my wife and I are both runners – so we figured it would be a neat way to get the community involved," said Tim. "It was great. We started this late in getting organized – we were going to be happy if we had 200 [runners], so we doubled our expectations. That was great. I think it’s just an example of how the community’s reacted to this whole thing and how Spring-Ford’s reacted and it’s just another example of how they support our family. We look at this whole process as a way to stay close with his friends and help them deal with the loss of Conor, also."

In May, the Spring-Ford High School baseball team a game to him right before playoffs. They put a banner in the outfield on the high school field. According to Conor's father, this is another example of the community coming together to help a family out that has a problem in their lives.

There were also t-shirts sold at the race, which had "CM35" on them, as 35 was Conor's favorite uniform number in baseball. The high school and legion teams have the logo on their uniforms in honor of their teammate.

On the race t-shirts was a picture of Conor just before he took his first at bat last fall. He was able to stage a comeback and play in a few baseball games for a local team for just a few months.

"It's a picture of Conor looking out at the baseball field just before he took his first at bat after months of chemo[therapy] and three major surgeries to remove tumors from his body," Tim said. "It is one of my favorite pictures of him and it symbolizes his strength and courage as he made this comeback while still on chemo and fighting the cancer - this will also be a symbol for our foundation going forward and will be on all tees for future."

The McKennas have three children - one son in ninth grade, one son in seventh grade and a daughter in fifth grade. They are looking to give the scholarship, starting in 2013, for at least the next 10-15 years. Moving forward, they hope to have another fundraiser in the spring and will continue the race every year. The second fundraiser has a possibility of being a volleyball tournament of sorts. Overall, Tim has been happy with the constant community support.

"My wife and I are still mourning over the death of our son," Tim said. "But, if there’s one positive that can come out of this, it’s that this is an amazing place to live, given the support we’ve received."

Race Results

Overall Winners:
Top Male: Josh Toth (16, Pottstown)
Top Female: Courtney Amersbach (Spring-Ford seventh grade math teacher) 

14 under:
Male: Paul Power
Female: Maggie Locke

15-19
Male:
Female: Jessica Weiss

20-29
Male: Jon Walton
Female: Laura Baratta

30-39
Male: Brian Glasier
Female: Katherine Cieszkowski

40-49
Male: Kenneth Beauchamp
Female: Jill Hynes

50-59
Male: Phil McKenna (Conor's uncle)
Female: Joanne Lyons

60+
Male: Reeves Geraghty
Female: Susan Horn