The Malverne community embraced the Memorial Day weekend with the third annual Freedom 5K and Fun Run with around 200 participants ready to run, while honoring fallen soldiers who served the country, and raising money for charitable donations.
Community organizer Greg Waxman, who orchestrated the event, earned the nickname ‘Patriot Man’ after inspiring the community during the pandemic while running through the village with an American flag to commemorate veterans. Waxman is no stranger to running, he races in other charitable events and runs 20 miles a week in his free time.
“We wanted to invite the whole community to come run with us,” Waxman said, explaining why he began this local race in 2023. “Anyone who wants to come and pay their respects to first responders and vets, can come join us and run with us.”
When he’s not organizing events, Waxman works as a youth tutor and a volunteer firefighter with the Malverne Fire Department. Waxman’s efforts to honor veterans and engage with the local community earned him the Herald’s 2024 Person of the Year award.
Runners from ages 7-70 participated in the May 26 race. Jeremy Mulvey, 31, won the men’s race with a time of 17 minutes and 15.94 seconds. Elizabeth Caldwell, 29, was first in the women’s race with a time of 21 minutes and 20.89 seconds. All runners received gifts and refreshments including protein balls, brownies, bananas, water and patriotic treats provided by All Round Foods.
This year’s race started at Malverne’s Connolly Station, an Irish pub and restaurant on Hempstead Avenue, continued through Malverne’s Westwood Park, looping around the Detective Steven McDonald Garden of Forgiveness before finishing at Connolly Station. This year’s 5K brought awareness to the late Det. McDonald, a former US Navy corpsman, NYPD officer and Malverne resident who passed away in 2017.
While working as a police officer in Central Park in 1986, McDonald was shot and left quadriplegic due to his injuries. McDonald gained recognition for forgiving the man who shot him, although they never formally met after the shooting. “It was important that we ran around the Steve McDonald Garden of Forgiveness because McDonald is a legend in Malverne and it’s great to bring awareness to him,” Waxman said.
For some runners, Memorial Day holds a special place in their heart, as they honor veterans and those who serve their communities. For Waxman, this race allows him to honor his grandfather, a World War II veteran, members of his family in the NYPD, and his fellow first responders. Waxman, who recently joined the Malverne Fire Department, has a new understanding of the importance of first responders.
“I do it for first responders and vets because I just joined the Malverne Fire Department,” Waxman explained, “The sacrifice that first responders make is substantial and critical to the community so anything I could do to raise awareness is important to me.”
The Freedom 5K raised over $13,000 for local organizations including Malverne Fire Department, American Legion Post 44 and Crossroads Farm. As well as Paws of War, an organization connecting veterans and first responders with service animals, the Nassau County Firefighters Operation Wounded Warrior, a nonprofit supporting active and retired service members, and the Malverne Police Benevolence Association, to support the Sergeant Thomas Winters scholarships. The two $1,000 scholarships the race funds go to two high school seniors and honors Winters, who served in the Malverne Police Department for 21 years before passing in 2021.
Waxman presented the donation checks June 4 at the Malverne Village Board meeting.
