Jimi Gubelli 5K, still running after 8 years

Reese Allegra, 8, of Oceanside; Katelyn Doyle, 10, of Island Park; Brianna Cadiz, 10, of Island Park; and Ava Emerson, 10, of Island Park.

Donovan Berthoud/Herald

Courtney Kwas, of New York City came in first overall in 19:41.9

Donovan Berthoud/Herald

Anna Kavanagh, 15, of Long Beach, came in first in the women’s division in 23:34.0.

Donovan Berthoud/Herald

And they’re off!

Donovan Berthoud/Herald

Jimi Gubelli

Courtesy Jimi Gubelli Foundation

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The eighth annual Jimi Gubelli 5K Walk/Run took place at Masone Beach in Island Park on June 25. Gubelli, who died in 2008, at age 47, of a heart attack. was well known in Island Park, where he was born and raised.

“Jimi was the type of person that would do anything for anybody,” said Tommy Gubelli of his late brother, who owned T.A. Clarke’s on Austin Boulevard. He helped virtually any organization that came in and asked him, Tommy said.

“We miss Jimi a lot,” said Felicia Nicholas, a co-founder of the Jimi Gubelli Foundation. “We miss his laugh, and his genuine way of bringing people together just because. To Jimi it was always about getting everyone together for no good reason other than to laugh, live life and have fun.”

The foundation raised $30,000 at the event including a $7,500 donation from the Island Park American Legion Post 1029, and gave away $25,000 in scholarships.

With some 400 people watching, 258 runners and walkers started the race, and 231 finished, with an average time of 12 minutes, 39 seconds per mile and 38:15 for the entire distance. Courtney Kwas, of New York City finished first overall, in 19:41.9.

Anna Kavanagh, 15, of Long Beach, came in first in the women’s division, in 23:34.0.

Asked why the event continues to be popular, Nicholas said, “We do this because this is how Jimi was, the type of person who always gave back in everything he did — always involved in the community. We felt a need to give back in his honor. The support we’ve gotten over the years has shown us the community agrees. It’s a good way to relive his memory and celebrate him as the person he was, and it’s an event for all his family and friends, who all loved him. He was such a social person.”

The foundation’s choice of a running race for a fundraiser is a little ironic. “The one thing my brother hated to do was run,” Tommy Gubelli said with a laugh. Jimi, who loved to do things outdoors, was more of a swimmer.

With the money it raises, the foundation gives out $2,500 scholarships and aids the community in a variety of ways. Over the past seven years, Nicholas said, the group has given out about 40 scholarships, totaling over $80,000.

For more information, go to http://jimigubellifoundation.myevent.com/.