Race Against Racism

By Douglas Graves The first three medal winning men crossed the finish line within three seconds of each other in the annual “Race Against Racism” five kilometer race in Bethlehem Saturday April 27, 2013. They ran in perfect temperate weather under blue skies. The race, sponsored by the YWCA, is to raise money for the Young Women’s Christian Association’s Racial Justice Program, according to Corrina Passaro, the association’s Director of Development. Dr. David Mariner, 58, of Shavertown, PA came in first by leading the field and earning the Men’s Division First Place medal. His time was 21 minutes, 29 seconds. Mariner is a vascular surgeon and works at Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center in Wilkes-Barre). Right on Mariner’s heels was Edmund Ogutu from Palmerton making the course in 21 minutes, 30 seconds and winning the Second Place medal in the Men’s Division. Ogutu, 57, originally from Kenya, said he had just recovered from abdominal surgery. Sixteen-year old Bethlehem Catholic High School student John Spirk was the third man across the finish line at 21 minutes, 31 seconds. He said he runs the 800-meter and hurdles in school. Spirk is the son of Bethlehem City Solicitor Jack Spirk. Stephanie Jones of Catasauqua crossed the finish line only a minute behind the men to take the Woman’s Division First Place medal at 22 minutes, 34 seconds. Lehigh Valley Health Network Health Systems’ Dr. Lynsey Biondi followed Jones across the line at Adler Place and Highland Avenue with a time of 23 minutes, 14 seconds. Biondi’s family was there supporting her. Her husband, Craig, and daughter Lula, 3, seemed thrilled with mom’s success. Her son Jubal, 10 months, slept through the whole thing. DeSales University Student and William Allen High School graduate Rouba Daher-Mansour medaled at Third Place in the Women’s Division with a time of 25 minutes, 59 seconds. Maria Spirk, 18, John’s sister and fellow Bethlehem Catholic High School student, also ran the race. People were at the race for many reasons, but many had definite ideas about racism and supported the YWCA’s program to reduce racism in America. “It’s definitely irritating that racism still exists,” said runner Jack Spirk, a student at Bethlehem Catholic High School. “It needs to be put to an end but it has a long way to go.” Edmund Ogutu, originally from Kenya, said he supports the YWCA and shares the organization’s values. Taylor Lutz, a volunteer at the race, said she is involved in the Coalition Against Racism which she said is a program of the YWCA. “There absolutely is racism everywhere,” said Lutz. “This gets people to actually think about racism. We have events, and dialogs with people from different walks of life and discuss how they have experienced racism and how to make it better.” Bethlehem Township’s Shelley Speirs said, “Racism is an issue we still deal with today in many ways.” Speirs said she is an avid runner and is a new board member on the YWCA’s board of directors. Runner Rouba Daher-Mansour who won the women’s third place medal said she “loves the cause—it’s a good cause.” Abby Gassler, an 11-year old student at Nitschmann Middle School in Bethlehem said she was there, “Because I wanted to know if I could run three miles.” She was accompanied by her father Thomas Gassler Jr. who ran with his daughter. “The Race Against Racism appealed to me”, said Dr. Lynsey Biondi, whose adopted children are African-American’s from Alabama, “because we are a mixed race family.” Kayla Sherry from Lehighton said she ran, “To support the charity.” Alexander Ardle, 15, a student at Northampton High School said he ran, “To get in shape for football.” “I don’t like racism,” said Ardle. “There’s a lot of it still around here. This race is really good.”