The 10th anniversary edition of the “Run for a Child’s Smile” (Bieg o Uśmiech Dziecka) set a new fundraising record. Thanks to the participants and the generosity of sponsors and donors, more than $16,000 was raised to help sick and needy children. It is the largest sum in the history of this charity sports and recreation event.
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“The ‘Run for a Child’s Smile’ is an example of an initiative that uniquely combines charitable work with the promotion of an active lifestyle and the integration of the Polish diaspora. I am pleased that the tenth, jubilee edition of the event continues this beautiful tradition, encouraging whole families to act together on behalf of the youngest,” Consul General Mateusz Sakowicz wrote in a letter sent to the Children’s Smile Foundation. He said he was pleased to take the event under his honorary patronage.
This year’s jubilee edition of the run was originally scheduled for Sept. 27, but because of a Nor’easter storm and a state of emergency declared by New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, the event was canceled and later moved to Sunday, Oct. 25. The new date turned out to be a bullseye, as the weather was beautiful and sunny. As a result, whole families came to the park where the run was held and were able to spend their Sunday relaxing. The scenery was an added attraction, since Forest Park had taken on its autumn colors for some time and the trees were decorated with multicolored leaves. In all, about 180 to 200 people turned out, half of them runners and the rest their families, loved ones and friends, who cheered loudly for the competitors, both the youngest, who ran 1,000 meters, and those who covered a distance five times as long. The participants in the charity sporting event represented several generations: the youngest runner was 4 years old and the oldest was 76. The average age among all women was 29.6 years, and among men 37.6. The field was split almost evenly between women and men, with a slight majority of men.
The run was preceded by brief speeches. Participants and guests were welcomed by Wojciech Maślanka, executive director of the Children’s Smile Foundation, who also thanked all the sponsors, donors and runners. Next to speak was Mariusz Śniarowski, the foundation’s former president and the originator of the run, who talked about the idea behind the “Run for a Child’s Smile,” spoke about this jubilee edition and recalled its beginnings, which go back to 2015. “The pandemic interrupted this noble event, which is why we are having the jubilee run this year, and it is about to begin,” Śniarowski said, thanking everyone for the large turnout at this and earlier editions of the charity event. Vice Consul Dawid Pietrusiak also spoke. On behalf of Consul General Mateusz Sakowicz, he wished everyone a good run and expressed appreciation to the Children’s Smile Foundation. “I would also like to congratulate the organizers of the tenth run. I hope that in another 10 years we will meet at a marathon rather than at 5 kilometers,” the diplomat added with a smile. Rev. Sławomir Szucki, associate pastor of St. Stanislaus Kostka Church in Greenpoint, led a short prayer and gave a blessing for the occasion to the runners and to those for whom the event was organized. He attended the sporting event in place of Rev. Grzegorz Markulak, the parish’s pastor and chaplain of the Children’s Smile Foundation. “I have competed well, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. In the end, the prize of righteousness has been set aside for me,” the priest said, quoting a passage from St. Paul’s letter to Timothy. He added that the “Run for a Child’s Smile” is a good race because there are no losers in it, “because every runner does not run to win, but runs for someone else.” But before the runners set out on the course, Monika Kwolek of the Polska Running Team association gave brief instructions on the rules of the race and the distance to be covered. The youngest runners, age 12 and under, went first, covering 1,000 meters (1K). Among the boys, Adam Tarnawski was the fastest, followed by Tomasz Rusin and Liam Sarmiento. Among the girls, Sophie Boczon finished first, Heidi Figiel-Lamczak was second and Aranella Pienczykowska third.
Adults and young people age 13 and older ran a 5,000-meter (5K) course. The fastest participant in the jubilee edition of the “Run for a Child’s Smile” was Artur Tyszuk, who ran the 5 km in 20 minutes and 40 seconds (20:40:10). Vyacheslav Tsyganets was second (21:11:50) and Alex Ryndak third (22:16:90). The fastest woman was 14-year-old Lena Olk, who just two years ago ran with the children in the 1K race. This year she started in the 5K race for the first time and finished in 26 minutes and 18 seconds (26:18:10). Agnieszka Pawlikowska was second (26:31.70) and Maya Bałdyga third (27:10.10). At the finish line, the winners were awarded medals, trophies and gifts prepared by the Maspeth branch of the Polish & Slavic Federal Credit Union, represented at the run by Elżbieta Ringer and Alicja Olszówka. In addition, all runners received commemorative T-shirts and jubilee medals. All participants were also treated to sweets prepared by Syrena Bakery.
This year’s 5K winners in both categories had won first place in the past. Two years ago, Lena Olk was the top finisher in the children’s 1,000-meter race, and Artur Tyszuk was the fastest in 2023. Both were very happy with their achievements. “I wasn’t thinking about winning, because I didn’t believe it was possible. And yet it happened, so I am very pleased and happy about it. But I still can’t believe it,” Lena Olk said. For Artur Tyszuk, the joy was even greater because, in addition to winning the jubilee run, he is also one of its originators. “I’m very happy that I managed to win the 10th edition of the run, which I organized years ago together with Mariusz Śniarowski, the former president and longtime director of the Children’s Smile Foundation,” he said. He also explained how it came about. “We met once, and during our conversation Mariusz said: ‘You run, and I work in a charitable organization, so maybe let’s do something together for sick children.’ And that’s how the idea for the ‘Run for a Child’s Smile’ came about, and today we are already at the 10th edition,” Tyszuk recalled.
The other originator of the event was also very pleased with how this year’s run, and earlier ones, turned out. “It was a very special, jubilee charity run of our foundation, organized together with Polska Running Team. We have done it together every year since 2015, except for the period of the COVID-19 pandemic. It has become a permanent fixture on the calendar of Polish diaspora events and is growing more popular. I hope that with each coming year it will end with even greater success, and at the same time with more financial help raised this way for children in need,” Śniarowski said. Indeed, this year the jubilee edition of the “Run for a Child’s Smile” brought a new financial record of more than $16,000. The funds will go to help sick and needy children who are under the care of the Children’s Smile Foundation. This was achieved thanks to the support of many companies and donors, as well as the runners and volunteers. The main sponsor was the Polish & Slavic Federal Credit Union. The charity event was also supported by: ETS Contracting, Perecman Firm P.L.L.C., TM Construction of New York, Belvedere Bridge, Joanna Gwozdz Attorney at Law, PDP Contracting, AMN Construction, Kurzatkowski Law Group, Pulaski Association of Business and Professional Men, Victoria Consulting & Development, FT Services & Distribution, Green & Szymanski – Low Offices, Vision Financial Planning, Arthur’s Funeral Home, All State Insurance-Robert Dworniczak, All NYC Safety & Training, L & Z Restoration Consulting, Maven Construction, Maleni Group, Everest Agency, Greenpoint Insurance Brokerage, JEPOL Construction, Maurice Building Supplies, the John Paul II School of Polish Language and Culture in Maspeth (Szkoła Języka i Kultury Polskiej im. JPII), Eagle New York and Heller Lat Firm. Media patronage was provided by “Biały Orzeł,” “Kurier Plus,” “Nowy Dziennik,” “Super Express,” “Tygodnik Plus,” the websites www.Bazarynka.com, Dziennik Polonijny (www.Poland.us) and Zza Oceanu (www.zzaoceanu.com), and Radio RAMPA. The run was organized by the Children’s Smile Foundation in cooperation with Polska Running Team and under the honorary patronage of the Consulate General of the Republic of Poland in New York.
Author: PR Children’s Smile Foundation
Photos: Wojtek Maślanka
RESULTS
1K winners:
• girls:
1. Sophie Boczon
2. Heidi Figiel-Lamczak
3. Aranella Pienczykowska
• boys:
1. Adam Tarnawski
2. Tomasz Rusin
3. Liam Sarmiento
5K winners:
• women:
1. Lena Olk (26:18:10)
2. Agnieszka Pawlikowska (26:31.70)
3. Maya Bałdyga (27:10.10)
• men:
1. Artur Tyszuk (20:40:10)
2. Vyacheslav Tsyganets (21:11:50)
3. Alex Ryndak (22:16:90)
Source: Nowy Dziennik
