LOCAL RUNNER TO RUN BOSTON MARATHON FOR CHARITY

LOCAL RUNNER TO RUN BOSTON MARATHON FOR CHARITY

By Amy Schechter

Racing the Boston Marathon is often a runner’s dream. When Ron Kozlin found out he was accepted to run in April 2020, he was overjoyed. Unfortunately, everyone knows the end of that story. The worldwide pandemic postponed Kozlin’s race, but not the fire inside of him.

For Kozlin, this is about more than running in a prestigious race. He’s running with the Dana Farber Marathon Challenge Team, an organization that raises money for innovative cancer research. Kozlin said, “The Dana Farber Organization is great. It’s not just helping cancer patients; it’s helping with therapies that attack cancer cells. All the money raised goes to that effort.” Dana-Farber’s mission is to reduce the burden of cancer through scientific inquiry, clinical care, education, community engagement and advocacy. Last year, even though he ran the marathon virtually in his neighborhood, he still raised a little over $11,000. This year, he hopes to raise $13,000. He, along with about 400 committed teammates, hope to raise nearly $6 million as they run Massachusetts’ historic marathon route from Hopkinton to Boston.

Kozlin shared how both family and friends have been impacted by cancer and how he has a special reason for choosing this charity and this event: “I grew up in an extended family of distance runners, including my father, uncle and cousin. My

uncle, Joe Kozlin, ran over 50 marathons in his lifetime, and Boston was always the crown jewel. He developed leukemia, and it was the fight he couldn’t win. I watched him go through that awful period of time Lisa and Ron Kozlin visit the 20-mile marker on actu- where the treatal Boston Marathon course during training. ments weren’t working, and so I always thought if I was going to run a marathon, it would be the Boston Marathon.” Kozlin is excited to finally run in person on Columbus Day—Monday, October 11— this year, and he cannot understate the importance of his support system: “I’ve been training since October of 2019. The long runs are 15-20 miles on the weekend. My wife, Lisa Kozlin, has been an amazing support. She’s usually riding a bike with me, getting up at 4:30 or 5 a.m. to ride alongside me with water and flashlights. She even followed me the entire virtual marathon.” He’s kept up his training for two entire years, but he knows the cause is well worth it. “It’s not a trivial thing to commit to; it’s a great way to dedicate yourself to something, especially when you’re asking other people to donate,” he said. Kozlin can accept donations up through Friday, October 29, past the date of the actual marathon. Follow him on social media with the hashtag #runronrun. To donate to the cause and help him reach his goal, visit http://danafarber.jimmyfund.org/goto/ RunRonRun.

CAMPO FAMILY YMCA BOOK CLUB RESUMES FOR IN-PERSON MEETINGS

By Tatiana Ortiz

Those seeking new titles for their reading lists could join Campo Family YMCA’s book club in Valrico every month. The group is open to all YMCA members and meets on the second Tuesday of every month at 6 p.m.; the next one will be on Tuesday, October 12.

Cyndi Waring, member experience advisor at Campo Family YMCA, shared how the book club came into fruition.

“Years ago, when I was in a diferent position, our executive director at the time had asked each of us to start a small group for members, one that would connect us to them as well as one that would grow and cultivate relationships,” Waring said.

Currently, the group consists of 16 people. Members can join the group at anytime. Participants bring their choice of titles along with a short synopsis of each to share with the group. The goal of this

small group is to read the book that had been chosen the month previous by the group and to discuss it. Waring stated that the book club likes to choose a variety of books and, as a group, come up with a list. For the month of September, The Guest List by Lucy Julie Carter, a member volunteer who leads the Campo Family YMCA book Foley will be club. discussed. In October, it will be Josiah’s Fire by Tahni Cullen; in November, Send For Me by Lauren Fox; and in December, The Son Does Shine by Anthony Ray Hinton. Waring mentioned what makes this program unique in addition to all of the others that Campo Family YMCA ofers to its members: “This group is a great opportunity for our members from all walks of life, backgrounds, cultures and so forth to connect with each other over something that they have in common such as reading.” During the month of September, the membership fee is being waved. For more information, visit www.tampaymca.org. If you have questions, contact Waring at cyndi.waring@tampaymca.org. Campo Family YMCA is located at 3414 Culbreath Rd. in Valrico and can be reached at 684-1371.