For the last 10 years, the final Sunday in April has seen residents from in and around Seekonk heading to the road for the G.E.N. 5K roadrace and two-mile walk-a-thon. This year, more than 350 runners and walkers hit the pavement for the event, dedicated to the memories of three Seekonk teenagers who drowned in 1998.
When Greg Deverell, Eric Azevedo and Nick Velardo went missing after a canoe trip on the Turner Reservoir, dozens of family members, neighbors, police and fire personnel came together, spending hundreds of hours searching for the boys. To honor their memory, the parents of the teenagers teamed up with the Seekonk Lions Club to put on the roadrace.
"Typically an event like this has a short shelf-life," said Gary Sagar, a member of the Seekonk Lions Club who works coordinating the event. "But this [event] has not only maintained, but increased in popularity. This is more a community event than just a simple road race."
All funds raised by the event are used to fund four scholarships given to Seekonk High School students. Of the four scholarships, three are given in the names of Greg, Eric and Nick and one is given in the name of the Seekonk Lions Club.
Though the effort is a collaboration, members of the Seekonk Lions Club said that the event is only made possible by the efforts of the victim's parents.
"The families of the three boys have been very active in this over the last 10 years," said Seekonk Lions Club president Nate Helgerson. "You have to give them a lot of credit. Without them, this wouldn't be taking place."
Following the race, more than three dozen prizes were raffled off, with Nick Velardos's mother Ginny, announcing the winners.
"It's become an annual event people look forward to. It's a family day," Mrs. Velardo said. "It's a town event too. I see a lot of people I don't normally get to see."
When asked what her son would have thought of the day, Ginny said that all of the boys would definitely be having a good time.
"I think he would be strutting his stuff, all three of the boys would," Mrs. Velardo said. "They would just think it was the coolest thing."
Though Greg, Eric and Nick's parents work with the Lions Club on the G.E.N. scholarship run, the two groups initially came together just after the incident. To honor the memory of Greg, Eric and Nick, the Lions Club donated a two-acre parcel of land sitting next to Turner Reservoir on the Rhode Island and Massachusetts state line. An outdoor classroom and stone monument were then built on the site, a tribute to the three boys.
Swing for the fences
In addition to the 5K roadrace, Sunday also featured a home-run derby and a softball game held at Seekonk High School featuring members of the Seekonk Police and Fire Departments taking on members of the Seekonk Lions Club and the Seekonk High School baseball team. One firefighter playing in the game had a personal experience with the search efforts surrounding the boys.
"I spent close to 100 hours looking for the kids" said Scott Pope, a firefighter with the Seekonk Fire Department. "This kind of event brings everybody together."
Sunday was also the first ever running of the "Jr. GEN," a variety of races for children ages 11 and under. Events included 50 meter, 100 meter, 200 meter and 400 meter dashes, as well as mini-hurdles, a long-jump, an agility shuttle and a turbo javelin throw.
"It was good, it was fun," said 8-year old Jake just after finishing second in the 400 meter dash and winning another race.
Funds from the event are raised primarily through sponsorships, donations and event entry fees. In total the event raises approximately $10,000 annually.
The race winners
Coming in first overall for the 5K was P.J. Riley with a time just over 14 minutes. Though he has run the race before, Sunday was Mr. Riley's first, first-place finish.
"It was tougher than I thought it would be," Mr. Riley said. "This a good, well put on race. It's a nice flat course and a good atmosphere."
Finishing first overall on the women's side was Christine Gregorek.
Though an eleventh year for the race could not be confirmed Sunday, a potential event could be coming in September, to thank the hundreds of volunteers who have made the event possible over the last decade.
On Sunday alone, members of the Seekonk Police and Fire Departments, the Seekonk High School track team and the Lions Club were all on hand. Combined with other assorted volunteers, more than 50 individuals donated their time on the day of the event. Planning for the race, however, is a four-month long process, beginning in January. Mrs. Velardo estimated that the combination of total volunteers across the planning of the event and those taking part in it totals about 700 people.
"This is the biggest community event we're involved in," Mr. Sagar said. "This all started as a memory to them."
By George Morse