The annual SCO Family of Services Peter Speranza 5K Run to Help the Children will be held Saturday, Sept. 3. This annual 5K race, which winds through the scenic Victorian streets of Sea Cliff, benefits the developmentally disabled and physically challenged children who live at St. Christopher's Home on the Sea Cliff campus of SCO Family of Services.

The day of race festivities begin at 9 a.m. with a Half-Pint Half-Mile Race for elementary school children. In this race, all contestants are winners and receive medals and other goodies commemorating the event. At 9:20 a.m. the Middle School Mile kicks off. Prizes are awarded to the top three male and female winners. The Peter Speranza 5K Run for the Children goes off promptly at 9:45 a.m. Prizes will be awarded five deep, male and female, in the following categories: Overall, 15 and under, 16-18, 19-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, 70-79, 80 and up.

The race will be timed by Start to Finish and will use the microchip method of scoring. Race results will be available shortly after the race ends and will be posted on the Start to Finish website.

Jerry Farrell of Rising Tide Natural Food Market in Glen Cove continues to coordinate the race as he has for more than 10 years. Delicious refreshments, including fresh fruit, homemade muffins, bagels and fruit juices will be available after the race and are donated by many local merchants, including Rising Tide Natural Food Market and Apple and Eve. A ragtime band will entertain the runners and spectators.

Preregistration fee for all races is $15, which includes a high quality cotton T-shirt. Entries must be postmarked by Aug. 26. Post-registration fee is $20 (Late registration includes a shirt while they last), Late registration can be done Friday evening, Sept. 2 at SCO Family of Services, 101 Downing Avenue, Sea Cliff, between 5 to 7 p.m.

Sponsors also play a very big part in the success of this event. As this goes to press, 4-C Foods, Avalon Bay Communities, Inc., Chem Rx, Rising Tide Natural Market and Tweezerman International are proud to be the major race sponsors. Other sponsors include Designed Interiors and Driscoll Food. For information on how to become a sponsor or volunteer, or to register for the race, please call Sioban Rack, director of development, at 671-1253, ext.139 or visit www.sco.org for more information.