The organizers of the May 1 5K run in East Hampton Village deserve the highest praise. From the first inkling of the idea of two young women at East Hampton High School — Dylan Cashin and Ryleigh O’Donnell — to the flawless coordination with the Old Montauk Athletic Club and the village, the event was a big success. The village police also deserve a round of applause for managing the flow of about 700 runners and their supporters from Main Beach to Apaquogue and back. Even the weather was perfect.
The day raised $18,000 for the Family Service League, which provides mental health services to children, families, and individuals across Long Island. May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and the race was conceived by Dylan and Ryleigh as a way to “stop the stigma” that can be associated with mental health issues and treatment.
This event, which brought together young and old and longtime residents and newer folks, was a great example of what it means to be a community. We hope that it will become an annual tradition. Everyone involved is a hero in our book.