By Helena McSherry

Dec. 4, 2024: In its eighteenth year, turnout for the Katie Welling Memorial Run/Walk was truly extraordinary.

To view this year’s photo album and race time results, CLICK HERE.

This beloved Thanksgiving tradition, which honors the memory of Katie Welling from Bronxville High School’s Class of 2002, was held in person on Saturday, November 30 and offered a virtual option for out-of-towners. The event, which benefits the Bronxville School Foundation, drew over 400 participants and donors.

With the help of more than forty community volunteers, the event also honored Tom Welling, Katie’s dad who passed away in March 2022. Tom led the planning for Katie’s Run/Walk for fifteen years since its inception in 2007 and was a wonderful friend and asset to the Bronxville community.  

Despite the cold temperature, Bronxville residents, school families, current and former school staff, alumni, and many friends of the Welling family gathered together to honor Katie and Tom. Helen Welling, as well as Kurt and Thomas, Jr. and their families, were in attendance and welcomed runners and walkers at the front entrance of the Bronxville School. 

Mayor Mary Marvin and Jim Agnello, who retired last year after 26 years working as a guidance counselor at the school, shared opening remarks at the flagpole. Agnello,  who has been a great friend and supporter of the Welling family for many years, shared that as part of the school’s larger beautification project, a new tree has been planted in honor of Katie at the corner of Pondfield and Midland Roads, and the Foundation has installed a plaque at the base of the tree with the inscription ‘Katie’s Tree – Live, Laugh, Love.’ 

The Foundation’s Chairperson, Wendy Fahy, also spoke and expressed gratitude for the continued support of Bronxville’s school staff, alumni, community members, and town merchants. “Many generous merchants contributed to the event,” said Fahy. “We are grateful to Lange’s Deli, Park Place Bagels, Mrs. Morgan’s Flower Shop, and Tryforos & Pernice for donating refreshments and beautiful flowers for the event and to Bronxville’s Fleet Feet for lending their space to us for registration and bib pick-ups ahead of the in-person event.”

With assistance from the Bronxville Police Department, community volunteers lined the race route through the village, many with their children as helpers.  Jack Pasquale dressed up for the third year in a row to greet runners and walkers passing by.  Members of the Welling family and friends welcomed participants at the finish line, and Thomas Welling, Jr. handed out medals to the winners. Katie Ryan and Jaime Valdes, both Bronxville School alumni, finished with the best times.

The virtual option continued to allow friends from far and wide to participate even though they were not in Bronxville on Thanksgiving weekend. “Many friends come in person while others submit photos to show their virtual participation,” said Philippa Freeman, the Foundation’s Public Relations Chair.  “The Williams family was with us in spirit, sending photos from Cape Cod of a post-run polar plunge!” Beyond the Bronxville area, people from California, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Washington, D.C. showed their support. 

This year, the Foundation invited all clubs and teams from the Bronxville School to participate, awarding a prize to the group with the largest participation rate.  Runners from Cross Country and Track as well as the Girls’ Varsity Basketball team had fantastic participation rates.  

Thanks to the support of the Bronxville community, Katie’s Run/Walk has generated over $300,000 since its inception.  Contributions to Katie’s Run allow the Foundation to fund grants for facilities improvements and equipment, faculty training, curriculum development, and specialized programs at the Bronxville School.

The event was established by Katie Welling’s many friends and her family to commemorate her wonderful sense of humor, infectious laugh, and love of life. Katie died in an off-campus fire at Miami University in Ohio in 2005. She had just turned 21.

For more information on Katie’s Run/Walk and to view this year’s photo album and race time results, CLICK HERE.

Special thanks to Vivek Shah and Carson Kochansky for their photography.