SCRANTON, LACKAWANNA COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — On Saturday, Downtown Scranton will come alive with the spirit of community and remembrance as runners and walkers gather for a beloved Labor Day weekend tradition.
Every year, on the Saturday of La Festa Italiana, hundreds of participants gather in Downtown Scranton to pay tribute to Captain James R. Minicozzi, in a race he started in 2011 before passing away the following year.
The Captain James R. Minicozzi Memorial Race, now in its 12th year, honors a local hero, and the man who helped start it all.
"The race got established in 2011 when they were doing it as a Unico 5K during La Festa, my brother helped establish and organize it, and the following year when he passed away, with him being a member of Scranton Unico chapter and on the board of directors for La Festa, they voted unanimously to name the race in honor of his memory," said race director and Captain Minicozzi's sister, Leslie Minicozzi Galacci.
Now, it's a race many look forward to.
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"We have out fruit for them, water, Gatorade, granola bars, we make it fun there, the bonus prizes are crazy, the award ceremony is fun," Leslie explained.
Organizers dedicate 10 months out of the year to preparing for this memorial race and everything it entails.
"This planning starts right around March, mailers go out in April and then it's all planning right up until race day, then there's like a two-month lull, and it's time to start planning the kids Christmas party," Leslie continued.
The race serves a greater purpose beyond honoring Captain Minicozzi.
Proceeds go to the Boys and Girls Clubs of NEPA helping to fund their annual Christmas party.
"It's 200 munchkins and it's a full course dinner, it's three hours of festivities, a DJ, and then we provide gifts for them which is all clothing for the winter, and last year, we raised enough we literally clothed with warmth from head to toe," Leslie added.
From honoring her brother to helping out the children, it's a tradition that Leslie and her team hope will continue to grow bigger and stronger with each year.
"We wanna keep this going we never want his memory forgotten and the more we can raise the more we can give back to the community, especially for the children who are our future who really need it," said Leslie.
So far, there are 178 runners signed up, which is a record number for the race, and that number doesn't include the folks who can sign up the day of the race.
A lot of prizes are going to be distributed.
