Elf Run Helps Give Christmas to Kids

(Ed. note: Hosannas to Aimee Roberts, Tony Ciccone, Jen Vaughn, Fr. Katz, parishioners at St. Anthony's and everyone else who made this season's Elf Run a huge success. The number of runners who showed up almost doubled from '99, and the Charlie Brown Christmas tree was loaded with presents for the Jail Ministry. The Elf Run is everything a race should be, and I think Aimee and friends deserve all the credit. The following is a pre-race story I wrote about Aimee. Please show up next year, and make your heart dance with joy.)

Somebody ought to tell Oprah Winfrey about Aimee Roberts.

Every Monday, on the queen of daytime TV's talk show, Winfrey gives a "Use Your Life" award to an individual who has offered his/her passion for life and special gifts of the spirit to help the needy in the community.

The 36-year-old Roberts has channeled her love of running, and compassion for the less fortunate, into numerous good works. Where does this big heart come from?

"It's from my upbringing. My folks were involved in our community, and they were role models for me," said Roberts, originally from Sidney. "I take two things I like to do -- running and helping others -- and combine them."

Running isn't always about beating someone or posting fast times. Roberts won't tell you, but here are a few examples of how one young woman -- with a lot of help from her friends -- has used her life well:

In 1998, as a member of Team in Training's Central New York Chapter bound for the Dublin Marathon, Roberts trained for and finished the 26.2-miler in Ireland, and raised $7,000 to benefit the Leukemia Society. She continues to mentor other Team in Training recruits.

"That was a great experience for me," said Roberts, greenhouse grower head at Cornell University's Department of Horticulture. "It opened my eyes to see how generous people really can be. It was always my dream to go to Ireland, but, although I was a runner, the longest race I had run was the Boilermaker (9.3 miles). Team in Training enabled me to train for a marathon with help. And, my grandfather had leukemia, so the cause was close to my heart."

The petite Roberts, who lives in Cortland, had long brown hair for 12 years. But not any more. A co-worker told her about "Locks of Love," a Florida organization that takes hair donations and makes wigs for children with leukemia. Good-bye hair.

"Locks of Love gave me the courage to braid up my hair and cut it off," said Roberts. "I thought about doing it for about a year -- long hair was such a part of me, but then I said, 'I can do that!'"

Roberts, and friend Tony Ciccone of Locke, each raised $500 and participated in the Ride for Missing and Exploited Children, held last May. The group cycled 100 miles from Albany to Utica in one day, stopping periodically to talk about the cause to school children along the route.

"The money raised buys posters to publicize missing children," said Roberts, who plans to do it again next year.

Roberts was one of about 1,000 runners and walkers at the 2000 Big Flats Race for the Cure, a 5K which raises funds for breast cancer education and research. And when the homeless dogs and cats needed food in October, Roberts joined with parishioners at St. Anthony's Church in Cortland in collecting food for the local SPCA.

Roberts needed our help with another exceptional project: St. Anthony's second annual Elf Run 5K and Family Fun Run/Walk , held Saturday, Dec. 9, at St. Anthony's Paduan Community Center, 236 South Main St., Cortland.

The pre-entry fee for both events was a pledge to bring a new toy(s) or $10-$15 in cash. All toys and entry fees were donated to the Cortland County Jail Ministry to buy Christmas gifts for area children who have incarcerated parents. A 50/50 raffle, conducted by elf Mary Leary, was held race day to cover expenses.

Roberts, and friends Ciccone and Jen Vaughn, got the idea for the Elf Run in 1999 after finishing another "feel-good" event: Pud's Run.

"Jen said we should do a run to encourage people to do something," Roberts said. "I was thinking on the run, 'What can we do?' and I thought about Christmas. Then I asked Fr. Jerry Katz of St. Anthony's what we could do, and he said, 'you do the leg work.' I did the research, and thought, why not do toys and give them to children."

The inaugural Elf Run in '99 was a huge success, with about 117 runners donating piles of toys and about $700 in cash, which was used to buy more gifts as needed for Loaves & Fishes. Each year, the Elf Run committee, comprised of Fr. Katz, Roberts, Ciccone, Vaughn, Mike Anderson, Al Hastings, Jo Karatelli, Geri Ann Hartnett and Kathy Tripp-Smith, selects a different charity to receive race proceeds.

Roberts said the Jail Ministry would like all kinds of toys -- and especially books, targeted to children ages infant to teens. Any extra money collected will be used to buy clothes, food or any other items that may be missing.

Elf Run awards were given to the overall male and female winners in the distance- certified 5K, plus top three finishers in numerous age categories. There were special awards for best elf costume, best Christmas spirit and best toy costume. All finishers in the 5K and fun run received a candy cane token, created by Roberts' mom.

There was a visit by Santa, and bathrooms, warm shelter and homemade post-race refreshments, hot baked by St. Anthony's parishioners, fruit, bagels, hot cider and "elf cookies" by Keebler were offered at the Paduan Community Center after the race.

Too cold to run, or too slow to race, you say?

"You can do for others at Christmas, and have fun while you're doing it," Roberts said. "Or do it for your personal self-esteem. I've always been a back-of-the-packer, but even though I'm not the fastest, I can still make a difference."

Post-race tally: 28 completed the one-mile fun run and walk; 117 raced in the 5K event.