Community Corner

Children Will Race for Chase Kowalski on June 2

Chase Kowalski, a seven-year-old victim of the Sandy Hook School tragedy, has strong family ties to Monroe.

A "Kids Fun Run" is an annual tradition before runners compete in the Sprint for Monroe, but this year it has a deeper meaning. Named in honor of Chase Kowalski, a seven-year-old victim of the Sandy Hook School shooting, children will participate in the Linda's Story Time Race4Chase at Wolfe Park on June 2.

All proceeds will benefit the Chase Kowalski Memorial Foundation, a charity set up by his parents, Becky and Stephen, so the couple can build Chase’s Place, a community center in Newtown.

Sue DeGeorge, chairperson of the Race4Chase Committee, said soliciting donations for the non-competitive children's race has been easy.

"It was touching how people were so willing to give," DeGeorge said. "This was one of those things where people said, 'Yep. Sure. No problem.'"

As volunteers introduced themselves while seeking sponsors for the Sprint for Monroe, DeGeorge said the expressions on people's faces quickly changed at the mere mention of Chase Kowalski's name.

Never a fundraiser in past, DeGeorge said the kids run usually lost money because it's only $5 per child and everyone gets a gift bag, Finisher's Medal and a T-shirt. But the Race4Chase has already raised over $3,000 so far.

On June 2, the Race4Chase will begin at 8:15 a.m.

Family Ties to Monroe

The young boy's family has strong ties to Monroe. Both Stephen and Becky are Masuk High School graduates and Chase's grandfather, Tony Kowalski, is known by many in town for his past service as a Monroe Fire Safety Police volunteer and as an ambulance driver for the Monroe Volunteer Emergency Medical Service.

DeGeorge's seven-year-old daughter Ellie had been a classmate of Chase's at The Kiddie Campus Preschool offered at the United Methodist Church of Monroe at 515 Cutlers Farm Road — and a number of other parents involved in the Race4Chase also have children who were his classmates there.

Members of the Race4Chase Committee include DeGeorge, Lauren Orlando, Lori Guerrera, Amy Primorac, Marybeth McGuire, Barbara Demblin, Donna Feneley and Joanna Murzinski.

"I've been overwhelmed, in a good way, by the generosity of people and over the committee members I'm working with," DeGeorge said. "They've been remarkable in their enthusiasm and their temerity to get this done and get it done well."

Registration for the Sprint for Monroe and the Linda's Story Time Race4Chase is still available online at the Sprint for Monroe website. People have the option of joining teams for the main race online, including Team Chase, DeGeorge said.

Generous Sponsors

Linda's Storytime is the title sponsor for the Race4Chase in which local businesses have donated funds and items for the gift bags children will receive. The first 200 children who register will be guaranteed a gift bag, medal and T-shirt, according to DeGeorge.

DeGeorge said Linda Devlin, owner of Linda's Story Time in Monroe, was immediately receptive to the idea of being the title sponsor.

"Linda was very honored to be asked," DeGeorge said. "She's a great children’s business in town. She's very generous and happy to be part of it."

In addition to items for the gift bags, DeGeorge said sponsors are also donating prizes for a raffle and every child will receive a Teddy Bear from The Sandy Hook Run for Families, which had a lot of stuffed animals left over from its race in Hartford.

All of the Sponsors

Sponsors for the Race4Chase include:

Linda‘s Story Time, Bev Max, Bill’s Drive In, Blue Colony Diner, Canterbury Pediatric Group, Cardsmart of Monroe, Commonwealth Financial Group, Connecticut Dance; Country Pizza; Country Colors Painting; Sandy Hook
Creative Music Center, LLC, Dental Associates of CT, D.R. Charles Construction, Efficiency Media, The Giggling Pig, Hirsch Law, LLC, Hybrid Athletics Cross Fit,   Kiddie Campus Preschool, L.A. Barnaby and Sons, Lakewood Trumbull YMCA,   Manny’s Barbershop, McDonald’s of Monroe, McGuire Family, Monroe Pediatrics, Pediatric Rehab and Fitness, Pirate’s Booty, Rings End Lumber, Roberto‘s Restaurant, Sandy Hook Run for the Families, Shadow Graphics, Sherwin Williams Paint, Sippin Energy, Stepney Hardware, Subway, 447 Monroe Turnpike, Turner Construction, Weeburn Country Club and Wells Fargo, N.A.


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