Sobieraski starts 400-mile benefit run for Community Action
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Brett Sobieraski is shown on the Albion High School track this morning, the beginning of an 8-day fundraiser for Community Action of Orleans & Genesee.
Sobieraski is planning to run 400 miles over the eight days with a goal of raising $20,000 for Community Action.
He is planning to run 220 laps at tracks the first seven days for 55 miles each day, then a final 60 laps for 15 miles next Saturday.
Sobieraski gets a high five from Jackie Dunham, the director of operations for Community Action.
As of 9 a.m. today, $4,866 has been raised online from 72 donors. Click here for more information about donating online.
Sobieraski rounds the far end of the track by the Albion scoreboard while running next to his girlfriend, Laura Rinaldi.
He welcomes people to join him on the track, even if it’s just for a lap.
He expects to be out at each track for 10 to 12 hours.
The schedule includes:
- Today, July 18 – Albion High School for 55 miles
- Sunday, July 19 – Lyndonville HS for 55 miles
- Monday, July 20 – Batavia HS for 55 miles (7 a.m. to 5 p.m.)
- Tuesday, July 21 – East Rochester HS for 55 miles (Special Remembrance Day for Fallen Officers)
- Wednesday, July 22 – Kendall HS for 55 miles
- Thursday, July 23 – Medina HS for 55 miles
- Friday, July 24 – Holley HS for 55 miles
- Saturday, July 25 – Albion HS (8 a.m. to 11 a.m.) for the grand finale of 15 miles
Brett Sobieraski runs on the track at about a 10-minute mile pace this morning. Brenda Myrthil of Rochester is behind him.
Myrthil wanted to be part of the experience on the track with Sobieraski, who has completed many endurance challenges to benefit charities and fallen police officers. Sobieraski is a retired sergeant from the Rochester Police Department. He currently works as an investigator with the Orleans County Major Felony Crime Task Force.
“He is such an inspiration,” Myrthil said. “He does these crazy things to draw attention to others.”
She likes running on the track with other people, which she said makes it more of a community event.
Jeff Atwell (left), manager of weatherization for Community Action, and Ernie Gursslin, the facilities technician for the agency, secure a Community Action banner along the track fence. There will also banners for sponsors of the 400-mile run.
There is merchandise available, including commemorative T-shirts.
Brett Sobieraski poses for a photo with two colleagues at the Orleans County District Attorney’s Office before the start of the run this morning at 7. Connor Smith is an intern at the DA’s office and Susan Howard is the district attorney.
“Our whole office supports him,” Howard said. “What he is doing is ridiculously amazing.”
There was a gentle rain at the start of the run at 7 a.m.
Sobieraski said the rain to start the run today felt like a friendly jab from “Maz,” who is the late Anthony Mazurkiewicz. That Rochester police officer was killed in the line of duty on July 21, 2022.
In 2023, Sobieraski ran a marathon every day for 50 straight days, traveling on foot from Florida and Rochester, going 26.2 miles a day. Sobieraski would raise $110,000 for the Mazurkiewicz family. In the last 5K of the final marathon, 850 people joined Sobieraski in Rochester.
He is hoping for a big turnout on the track for Community Action, especially the finale next Saturday in Albion.
Sobieraski wants the run to bring people together during a time of divisiveness, and also raise money for Community Action which provides many services in Orleans and Genesee counties.
