Over 230 runners gathered for MercyFirst's annual Bridie Goldstein 5K Road Race & Walk on the morning of Saturday, Nov. 24. The race, which winds its way through Syosset, raises money for the agency's programs, as well as providing runners with the opportunity to runoff some of those extra calories from the Thanksgiving feast. It was a cold morning, but that didn't stop running enthusiasts from turning out.

The annual race has a long tradition. In 2003 the race was re-named in honor of Bridget Goldstein (known to friends as "Bridie"). A bright and vital part of the MercyFirst community, Bridie worked as a nurse at the agency for almost a decade. She was tragically killed in a car accident in January of 2003. The run memorializes her spirit, her love for running, and her generous spirit, while raising money for the thousands of children and families served by MercyFirst.

MercyFirst serves more than 4,000 children and their families at over 20 locations in New York City and throughout Long Island. Founded as sister orphanages in 1894 by the Sisters of Mercy, Angel Guardian Home in Brooklyn and St. Mary's of the Angels Home in Syosset, MercyFirst today offers an integrated continuum of care for children in need, from birth through adolescence, including children who have been abused and neglected; youth with serious emotional problems; teenagers and young adults who are without family; and families coping with the stress and pressures of poverty, domestic violence, mental illness, and substance abuse.