Gone but not forgotten: Riverhead’s second Run to Remember race scheduled for Sunday, May 15

They may be gone, but Patrick Burke wants to make sure they are never forgotten.

Last year, the Riverhead High School assistant principal organized a 5k race in memory of all the Riverhead students, alumni and faculty who lost their lives too soon. It was a tremendous success, drawing more than 300 runners and filling a dozen memory boards with photos, mass cards and tributes to lost loved ones (photos).

Following the community’s overwhelming response last year, Burke thinks this year’s race will be even bigger.

“It was beautiful,” Burke said in an interview yesterday. “Some of the letters we got afterward, people really just greatly appreciated the fact this opportunity to honor those who are no longer with us.”

This year’s Run to Remember 5k, scheduled for Sunday May 15, will once again start on School Street between Riverhead High School and Riverhead Middle School. T-shirts designed by the art department will have a blank space for runners to write who they are running for: “I remember _____”

“We’re just trying to keep the memory alive of anyone who has come through these doors,” Burke said.

Before last year’s race, Burke recalled fond memories of Demitri Hampton, a 2010 graduate who was shot and killed while trying to protect family members during a home invasion three years ago. He was just 21 years old.

“Demitri was such a great kid,” said Burke, who had Hampton as a student in his World History class. “One day I was joking around with him that I wanted his shirt – it was an orange shirt. The next day, he came in and gave it to me. I said, ‘Demitri, you don’t have to give me this!’ And he told me he’d gone out and bought another one to give me, he said, ‘So we can match.’ That’s just the kind of kid he was.”

Runners in last year’s race turned out to honor Demitri and dozens of other loved ones. One woman’s husband, a runner himself, had recently died after he was hit by a car, and she thanked Burke personally for holding the race.

“She told me she felt so fortunate to have the opportunity to run for him, that it was a way to help her husband’s legacy live on,” he said.

In addition to the flood of letters Burke received after last year’s race, students submitted essays about lost loved ones who had touched their lives. Essay winners were awarded scholarships from the proceeds of the race.

“Some of these essays really just break your heart,” Burke said. “We got so many amazing and beautiful essays. It shows you that everyone has an impact on someone’s life.”

Last year’s race raised enough money to fund $6,000 in scholarships for seven students. Proceeds from this year’s race will also go toward the scholarship fund.

The race will be held Sunday, May 15 at 9 a.m. Early online registration will cost $20; same-day registration will open at 7:15 a.m. and cost $25. A free fun run will be held for kids 10 and under at the high school at 10:30 a.m.

Run to Remember “I remember ___” shirts will be guaranteed to the first 150 participants that register.

This year’s race will also have a DJ at the finish line, along with tables from the event’s sponsors and refreshments. “We’re trying to make it a little more of an event this year,” Burke said.

Awards will be given to the top three male and female finishers in each age category during an award ceremony after the race at the high school gymnasium. A raffle will also be held for all participants. Runners are encouraged to bring photographs to add to the memorial boards, which will be on display in the gymnasium.