Reed Intermediate To Host A ‘Run For Ron’

By Eliza Hallabeck

The Reed Intermediate School’s Interact Club will be hosting a walk-a-thon and run-a-thon “Run for Ron Bienkowski and Family” at the school on Saturday, May 16.

According to Reed Intermediate School Assistant Principal Anthony Salvatore, students in the club wanted to help the district’s Business Manager Ron Bienkowski and his family with their medical expenses after they learned of the bone marrow donor drive held at the Newtown Middle School on March 30.

Dr Salvatore said the students wanted to know what they could do to help, and they started coming up with ideas.

“The more the merrier,” said Dr Salvatore about how many people he would like to see participating in the walk-a-thon/run-a-thon.

Dr Salvatore said the trail that will be used for the event is the same one used by the Reed Intermediate’s walking club. The sidewalk around the school will be used for people pledging three miles, and the outer perimeter of the school will be used for people pledging five miles.

The event will be held “rain or shine,” said Dr Salvatore.

 Mr Bienkowski was recently diagnosed with a rare form of leukemia, and the bone marrow registry drive on Monday, March 30, generated nearly 400 registry donors.

People interested in running or walking on May 16 can pick up a registration form at Reed Intermediate School or at the Board of Education’s office on Peck’s Lane. All registration forms are to be turned in on the day of the event.

Anyone who would like to contribute but will not be able to make it to the event can help by making a check payable to the Rotary Foundation and including “Ron Bienkowski Medical Fund” on the memo line. Checks should be mailed to the Newtown Savings Bank, 39 Main Street, Newtown CT 06470. The Rotary Club and bank have offered to manage the donations through the Rotary Foundation, so donations are a tax deductible contribution, according to Dr Salvatore.