Jimi Gubelli foundation 5K Walk/Run coming

“Jimi was the type of person that would do anything for anybody,” said Tommy Gubelli of his late brother, Jimi, who died in 2008.

It was Jimi’s spirit of kindness, and the impression that he left on everyone he knew, that inspired his friends to create the Jimi Gubelli Foundation, which will have its Seventh Annual Jimi Gubelli 5K Walk/Run, in Island Park on June 27 at 9:30 a.m.

“The whole premise behind it, besides getting the community together and doing the run, is that we want to give back to the community,” said Felicia Nicholas, vice president of the Island Park Civic Association. This year the foundation will be giving out $25,000 in schlorship monies.

Only 47 years old, Jimi was well-known in Island Park, the town where he was born and raised, for his kindness and generosity. He owned T.A. Clarke’s, which used to be located on Austin Boulevard. While he owned the bar/restaurant, he would help nearly any organization that came in and asked him for it.

Jimi’s willingness to give back to the community was one of the main reasons that his friends wanted to honor his memory however, the foundation’s choice of a 5K as their event is a little ironic.

“The one thing my brother hated to do was run,” said Tommy Gubelli, with a laugh. “So I found it funny that they would have a 5K run.” Jimi, who loved to do things outdoors, was more of a swimmer. But Island Park already has its annual Labor Day Swim Races.

There is a pre race party at Pop’s Seafood Shack on June 25 from 7 to 9 p.m. There will be a cornhole tournament on the 27th at 1 p.m., then music, raffles and a bar-b-q on the beach after the run.