LAKEWOOD - Every year over Thanksgiving weekend, a group of runners converge on Lakewood to remember one of their own in a unique way.
This year's Amy King Memorial 5K Run/Walk is set to take place on Saturday at the Lakewood-Busti Community Center. It will be the 12th annual run honoring the memory of Amy King, who was killed while working as a flight attendant aboard Flight 175 in the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
Registration for the race goes up until the day of the race, where participants can check in from 9 to 10:30 a.m. with the race beginning at 11 a.m. Registering in advance will guarantee a sweatshirt commemorating the 2012 Amy King Memorial 5K Run/Walk. The registration fee is $25 and a kids race will also be provided at no cost.
Proceeds from the race, which raises $10,000 each year, go to the Amy King Kids Fund, which allows underprivileged children to attend camp, and a $1,000 Amy King Track Scholarship for a Southwestern Central School senior. Last year's scholarship winner was Robert Newell, who was presented the award by children of the Amy King camp and is now attending Rochester Institute of Technology.
Money from previous years have also gone to the construction of a new playground at the Lakewood YMCA.
According to Tom Anderson, branch director of the Lakewood YMCA, the race and donation of its proceeds are all indicative of things Ms. King enjoyed.
"She enjoyed running as a hobby," said Anderson. "We honor Amy because she had such a great love for kids and life in general. She was a fun person."
The race is always held on Thanksgiving weekend because it is a time that many people from the area return to visit friends and family.
Over the years, the encouragement of costume wearing has become a staple in the event with a $300 prize given to the participant judged to have the best costume. The costume wearing is intended to provide an atmosphere of celebration in memory of Amy's life and legacy.
Members of Amy's family will also be on hand, as her sisters Kellie and Deb hand out awards at the end of each run.
Registration forms for the race can be picked up at the Lakewood YMCA or found online at www.jamestownymca.org. For more information, call the Lakewood YMCA at 763-0303.