BROOKLYN MEDIA GROUP NOVEMBER 10 - NOVEMBER 16, 2017 39
Ridge Runners to run Greek marathon
BY JAIME DEJESUS
JDEJESUS@BROOKLYNREPORTER.COM
They’re racing for passion and
history.
Members of the Ridge Runners,
a group of local runners that's been in
existence for three years, will be traveling
to Greece for the Athens Classic
Marathon, held on Sunday, November 12.
The venture — running the marathon
where it originated — means a lot
to member and Bay Ridgeite Andrew
Gounardes.
“It’s the first time for all of us running
this,” he said. “As someone who
is Greek-American and someone who
is proud of my heritage, this is the
big one. This is the story we learned
growing up as kids in Greek school for
so many years. It’s a special moment
and I can’t wait to cross the finish
line. The race ends at the old Olympic
Stadium so the feeling is going to be
overwhelming because I’m tracing the
roots of my heritage.”
The race's history dates back to
the Persian Wars of antiquity, when,
as Gounardes recounted, the Greek
runner Pheidippides ran just over
26 miles from the site of the Battle of
Marathon into Athens, "To deliver the
message that the Athenians won the
battle. That’s what gave birth to the
marathon so long ago.”
The Ridgeites will be running "the
original route that goes from the
town of Marathon, back into Athens,”
according to Gounardes.
“The Athens Marathon is something
we've always talked about during our
runs,” said Felix Chen, Bay Ridge resident
and the founder of Ridge Runners,
who said that, "hopefully the venture
will inspire some people to either do
the same or maybe start training for
their first race.”
Gearing up for the historic and taxing
marathon has been a big priority
for the group.
“We are doing a lot of training,”
Gounardes said. “Now we are in the
wind-down period so we aren’t training
as much. We are trying to keep
our legs nice and fresh for the race.
We don’t want any injuries between
now and then.”
According to Gounardes, out of the
individuals headed to Athens, three
of them are of 100 percent Greek
lineage, while two of them are half
Greek. "Those of us that have Greek
heritage are incredibly excited to be
participating in this," he said.
The Ridge Runners group was
created as a way to bring racing enthusiasts
from all walks of life together
in an area that didn’t have a huge
running presence.
“I used to be part of a running club
in Manhattan and I quickly realized
that was something we could also use
in South Brooklyn,” said Chen. “The
club was founded to connect people–to
create a community. As individuals,
we create mountains made up of experiences,
hardships and achievements
throughout our lives. When we bring
these mountains together, we form the
ridge that makes up Ridge Runners.”
Chen created a Facebook page that
helped spread the word. “Over time
it grew and now we do four different
runs a week,” said Gounardes. “Different
people can come at different
times and we keep trying to grow the
organization informally. Whenever
we find runners in the neighborhood,
we ask if they’d like to join us. There’s
no membership fee or minimum speed
or specific skill level. It’s just a really
fun outlet for people to come together
and support each other while they run.”
Now in their third year, the group’s
weekly outings include Tuesdays at 7:30
p.m., when they meet at the 69th Street
Pier and Fridays at 6 a.m., when they
meet at 86th Street and Fourth Avenue.
"Everyone does different races at
different times of the year," Gounardes
added. "Sometimes we do it together
and sometimes we don’t. It’s a supportive
club so everyone can train and have
people to help them train. A bunch of
us were interested in doing this and we
just decided to do it together."
Being a part of the group has meant
a lot to Gounardes.
"Running is great personally, but
it’s also a great social activity to be
able to have people running with
you and supporting you and pushing
you, and having those people become
your friends is really special," he said.
"I don’t think I would’ve done my first
marathon last year if it weren’t for the
support and encouragement of the
group. And I certainly wouldn’t be
doing the marathon this year without
the group coming together with the
idea to do it all together."
For more information, visit
www. facebook. com/g roups /
ridgerunnersnyc.
Frankie's Mission celebrates milestone
BY MEAGHAN MCGOLDRICK
MMCGOLDRICK@BROOKLYNREPORTER.COM
A mission’s milestone.
Frankie’s Mission – formally
known as the Francesco
Loccisano Memorial Foundation
– hosted its 10th annual Hopefest
Gold Gala on Friday, November 3,
once again honoring those involved
in the fight against cancer for their
integrity, leadership and – most of
all – their courage.
“It was a beautiful evening of kindness,
caring and support,” said Camille
Loccisano, founder of Frankie’s Mission
and mother of Francesco Loccisano,
a Dyker Heights resident and
Xaverian High School student who lost
his battle to bone cancer and leukemia
in September of 2007, just three weeks
after his 17th birthday. “That is the
meaning of the #GoGold movement –
bringing good people together to make
a real and significant difference for the
childhood cancer community.”
Honorees Filippo Giuffre, Pat Russo, Gilda Piccini-King and
Johnny Volpe with Camille Loccisano.
The #GoGold movement encourages
people and businesses to sport
gold in support of childhood cancer.
As always, the event – which saw a
sold-out crowd – honored outstanding
individuals for their related
work or support of Frankie’s Mission.
This year, Hopefest honored Filippo
Giuffre, owner of Mancini Giuffre
Salon & Spa and Zio Toto Restaurant
& Bar; Gilda Piccini-King, former associate
principal of Fontbonne Hall
Academy; Pasqualino “Pat” Russo,
BROOKLYN MEDIA GROUP/photo
Esq. and Johnny Volpe, a childhood
cancer survivor and “hero.”
“We raised $80,000 for the families
who need our help,” said Loccisano.
“Very simply, it was an evening of
many blessings.”
September marked 10 years since
Frankie’s death.
“It’s just another thing we do to honor
my son’s life, and secure those funds
to get those cures,” said Loccisano of
Hopefest, which was held at Gargiulo’s
Restaurant, 2911 West 15th Street.
Photo courtesy of Felix Chen
Andrew Gounardes and Christina Wongbuphanimitr are two of
several Ridge Runners traveling to Greece to participate in the
Athens Classic Marathon.