Race to help fund Thorne scholarship May 18 inaugural event will be run on streets of West Long Branch By Sherry conohan Staff Writer WEST LONG BRANCH — The first of what organizers hope will become an annual four-mile race to benefit the Michael W. Thorne scholarship fund will be held on the streets of the borough on May 18. Mindy Brady, spokeswoman for the organizers, said the route will be completely contained within the borough. Two different routes were under consideration initially, one starting at Shore Regional High School and the other at Franklin Lake Park, according to Councilman Joseph DeLisa. The Franklin Lake Park gazebo finally was chosen as the starting point. Brady and DeLisa said they have all the volunteers they need to help with the race, but they are now looking for sponsors. There are five categories of sponsors set forth — $1,000 or more, $500 to $1,000, $250 to $500, and $100 to $250. Members of the Borough Council agreed at their meeting on Jan. 15, immediately following a planning meeting by organizers of the race, that they would band together with individual private contributions to become a joint level-one sponsor in the $100 to $250 category. Borough money cannot be contributed to buy a sponsorship, Borough Attorney Gregory S. Baxter advised the council. Brady said those entering the race will be charged a fee. For adults, it’s $18 if paid in advance and $20 on the day of the race, she said. For children, it’s $5 if paid in advance and $8 on the day of the race. DeLisa said there would be a walking component to the race, in addition to the run, and that Mayor Paul Zambrano would join in the walk. Brady said 100 percent of the proceeds from the race will go directly to fund the scholarship named for Michael W. Thorne, who died at the age of 20 on July 3, 1984, while working as a volunteer fireman for the borough’s Fire Company No. 2. "He paid the ultimate sacrifice," she noted. Thorne, a graduate of Shore Regional High School, died while fighting a fire at Monmouth College when he fell down an elevator shaft, Brady said. He is the son of Alfred and Lynn Thorne, who were on hand for the planning meeting held at the new Borough Hall on Broadway. Alfred Thorne is a former West Long Branch police chief. Brady said two of Thorne’s four sisters will be participating in the inaugural race. She said Nancy Thorne Parnell, of Long Branch, will be running in the race and Patty Zimmerman, of West Long Branch, will be working with the kids’ race and her son, Michael, 10, and daughter, Cara, 7, will be running in it. The scholarship is given annually to a student from Shore Regional High School who will be continuing his or her education in the police, fire or public service area, according to Brady. She said the scholarship, which has been in existence since right after Thorne died, is administered by the West Long Branch Fire Company No. 2. "We are attempting to get as many donations from the community as possible," she added. To become a sponsor of the race or otherwise donate to the scholarship fund, or for more information, contact Brady at (732) 222-0725.