Community Corner

Post Office Cafe's Annual 5K is This Saturday

Annual 5K race is dedicated to helping the National MPS Society.

The Post Office 5K, a long-running Fall run/walk, will once again take over downtown Babylon Village streets this weekend.

The 3.1-mile run begins at 10 a.m. and the 1k "fun run" starts at 9:30 a.m on October 19.

Post Office Cafe, located on Main Street, sponsors the event to honor two Lessing family members affected by MPS: Mark Lessing Jr., who died in 2010 after battling the disease for 20 years, and Casey Lessing, a 21-year-old currently living with the disorder.

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The Cafe, owned by the Lessing family which also owns several other Long Island restaurants and catering halls, had been sponsoring the 5K for the past 22 years, but 15 years ago began collaborating with the MPS Society due to the family's very personal connection to the cause.

Fitness Incentive and Incentives Spa are co-sponsors for this year's race. Proceeds will benefit the National MPS Society, a nonprofit dedicated to funding research into the rare genetic disorder of MPS which affects children with devastating health consequences.

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To register for the race, visit mpssociety.org or stop by the Cafe. There will be prizes for the top three overall male and female winners, as well as age group prizes and a special acknowledgement for the top Babylon Village man and woman to finish.

The route will start in front of the Cafe and wind through residential streets south of Montauk Highway, and culminate in the finish line near the start. Streets will be closed to vehicle traffic for the duration of the event.

A pre-race party kicks off the festivities on Friday, October 18 at the cafe. From 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. runners can pick up their t-shirts and race numbers at the Cafe and mingle with other participants. A complimentary buffet is also on offer for participants.


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