Look what people are saying about us....
"To the Lelas Family,
I would like to tell you all what a great event you have put on every year since Coach's passing. It was something that I always looked forward to after the season, to have a day to remember Coach. Unfortunately I have taken a job in Cleveland and will not be able to attend this year's event. Enclosed is a small donation. I figured it was the least that I could do for Chuck, your family and the Fund. I also wanted to let you know that in the year that he was my coach, he had a tremendous impact on me as a player, but more importantly as a person. I hope the day is a great one. Best wishes.
You Gotta Have Heart,
Neal Quesnel
"Great race course, great weather (you must have good
connections), great people and great food!"
"With all the activities, events, food and plenty of helping
hands (great volunteer
enthusiasm!) you all did a terrific job
at making this Run/Walk a memorable event."
"All of the effort put in by the organizers and volunteers
shone
through with greater brilliance than the perfect racing
weather."
"At the post-race cookout afterward, I felt as though I was
part of some sort of family reunion.
There was an intimate and
warm feeling at the gathering that made this event feel
special."
"I look forward to participating next year, and to the next
twenty more!"
"I signed up to run that first race (2004) thinking it was the motivating factor I needed to keep running and lose weight. By May, I had lost 25 pounds, but more importantly, I was able to finish the run! So as I told Judy, Chuck, who had such a positive influence on so many people in his short time here on Earth, continues to motivate and influence people! --Maureen Posner"
"Dear Lelas Family - Thank you so much for choosing me for the Chuck Lelas Memorial Scholarship. I was very honored because he was a very special person to me. Coming into West Springfield High School as a freshman would have been very difficult without his guidance and patience. I thank you again. Sincerely, Caroline Rogalski"
"I am very honored to receive this scholarship. Mr. Lelas was always very helpful, kind and respectful. My father often spoke of him at our dinner table. He would tell us how lucky we all were to have had him in our corner. With Mr. Lelas, kids were number one and he always gave them the benefit of the doubt. I would like to thank the Lelas family for their help in making my dreams a reality. Sincerely, Sarah Lapolice"
Dear Lelas Family, First of all, I just want to let you know how much Mr. Lelas touched my life. He was my guidance counselor for four long years. I had trouble adjusting to high school but he believed in me. I remember it like it was yesterday - two weeks before graduation, he called me down to his office to give me bad news. They weren't going to let me graduate because I was a half credit short. Not only was I crushed, but so was he. He knew how hard I had worked to get to this day. Somehow, this wonderful man pulled some strings and - I was graduating as planned! He's my hero.
He taught me so much within those four years. Those ideas were life, friends, love and my future. I wouldn't trade them for the world. He was such a respectable man. Mr. Lelas always was there even if he knew I should have been in class...he was there acting like a second father to me. Mr. Lelas was my mentor - he pushed me to achieve things I didn't know I was capable of. He always treated me with respect and treated me like an adult.
Your family is so lucky to have been blessed with such a wonderful man, and I want you to know that not a day goes by that I don't think about him. Every year that this Lelas Run takes place, I'm upset because I cannot attend. Please take my donation in his name and I will pray that this run will be as successful as previous years.
Sincerely,
Maria L. Ronghi
