75 complete Wayne Burlison Colon Cancer Awareness 5K in windy weather

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Teanna Church of Holley heads to the finish line ahead of Barbara Sauer of Buffalo in today’s Wayne Burlison Colon Cancer Awareness 5K.

They were among 75 finishers in a race that is in memory of an Albion elementary music teacher who passed away at age 36 from colon cancer on March 26, 2014.

Laura Strutz served as the announcer after the race when the awards were handed out for the top three overall in male and female, and the top three in each age group. The cafeteria in the elementary school hosted the awarded event, which included refreshments.

Strutz urged men to get checked for colon cancer if they are 45 or older, or 40 or older if they have a family history with colon cancer.

Wolfpack Multisport organizes the race in Albion and also will be doing the Strawberry Festival 5K and 8K on June 14. Wolfpack organizes about 20 events in the Rochester and Syracuse areas.

Lindon Morici won the award for fastest female int he 5K and her two daughters were the top two finishers in the fun run. Morici is shown with daughters Winter, 6, at left, and Summer, age 9.

Screenshot

Medina firefighter Adam Fisher, left, heads towards the finish. Medina Fire Chief Matt Jackson, right in a photo looking through a tree, also completed the course that is slightly longer than a 5K at 3.17 miles.

The distance symbolizes the 3 months and 17 days Burlison lived from when he was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer until his death on March 26, 2014.

The top three male finishers include, from left: Jose Miguel Silva, winner in 18:19; Brad Kingdollar of Clarendon, third in 20:39; and Joe Silliman of West Seneca, second in 20:06.

Wayne Burlison’s wife Lisa addresses the runners at the start of the race. “He was an incredible man of integrity, faith and perseverance who loved Jesus, family, music and running,” she said about Wayne. Burlison’s son Adam completed the course today.

She is recently remarried to Tom Wink, left. Bert Gallmon, Wolfpack Mulitsports owner, is at right. Mrs. Wink and Gallmon both urged people to get checked for colon cancer.

Proceeds from the race help continue a scholarship in Burlison’s name that goes to a graduating senior with a passion for the arts, who demonstrates perseverance and overcame challenges.

Sponsors for today’s race included Silsby Family Dental, Mitchell Family Cremations & Funerals, Albion Agencies Insurance, and Dubby’s Tailgate.