DiFazio, Turchetta pace Running for Remission

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THEY’RE OFF: Race participants put their best foot forward as they all start off the 5K race.

GREETINGS FROM THE CITY: Mayor Allan Fung brought greetings from the City of Cranston and thanked the participants for raising money for such an important cause.

CONTINUING TRADITION: Heather DiFazio and Abby Turchetta worked together with a team of approximately 30 volunteers to put this year’s event together and raised more than $3,500 to help children and teens at Hasbro Hospital in need of treatment who are unable to afford them.

CLOCKING IN: Dylan Maples was the first male to cross the finish line of the race.

FIRST ACROSS THE LINE: Audrey Edwards was the first female to cross the finish line at Saturday’s Running for Remission 5K.

Abby Turchetta and Heather DiFazio, two students at Cranston High School West continued the Running for Remission 5K tradition on Saturday. Drawing a crowd of more than 100 participants, all runners were there for the same reason: to help raise funds for children and teens in need of medical treatments at Hasbro Children’s Hospital who are unable to afford them.

“I’m very excited, the weather is cooperating,” said DiFazio, noting that several of the days prior had been rainy and the weather had turned favorable just in time on Saturday morning.

Mayor Allan Fung brought greetings from the City of Cranston as the runners lined up at the starting line located just outside the high school’s main building and gymnasium.

“Welcome on this beautiful morning. I’m very proud to be here at the start of Running for Remission with Heather and Abby, a race that has continued a wonderful legacy that was started by Erin [Blake],” Mayor Fung said, citing the West graduate who began the event three years ago. “Thank you Erin, for coming back and supporting this great cause. I am very proud to be here with the students and parents who are all supporting this great cause. I want to take a moment to thank you all for doing what you’re doing today, helping other kids with a very serious health issue. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. You guys are what makes this city one of the best places to live in America, I’m so proud of all of you.”

DiFazio and Turchetta also welcomed the runners, including one participant being pushed in a wheelchair the entire way, thanking them and giving them some race reminders regarding route and prizes for the first male and female runners to cross the finish line.

“First, we would like to thank you all for coming,” DiFazio said. “All proceeds today will go directly to Hasbro hospital, specifically for the treatment of children and teens who cannot afford necessary medical treatment.”

Turchetta reminded the participants that regardless of their time in the race, all would receive three free raffle tickets which could be used for any of the post-race events located near the West track. The events included a dunk tank, food, raffles, a bounce house and a pie-throwing activity. Additional tickets were also available for purchase for $1.00 each.

“Have a wonderful day, good luck, and we’ll see you at the finish line,” Turchetta said.

The first male to cross the finish line was Dylan Maples and the first female to cross the finish line was Audrey Edwards. All-told, the event raised more than $3,500 for the cause.

“We are so pleased with the results,” DiFazio said. “It was amazing to see all of our hard work and ideas become realities this past weekend. We are so happy we were able to bring the community together for an event like this to support such a great cause."