Coronavirus risk turns annual Iwaniec run/walk in Unity into a virtual race

This year’s TakeOff Race still will raise money to provide breathalyzers for law enforcement officers.

It just won’t take place at Saint Vincent College in Unity.

Concern about the health risks of a large gathering of people, as the coronavirus pandemic unfolds, has prompted organizers with the Trooper Iwaniec Memorial Foundation to restructure the April 18 event as a virtual-only race.

“The virtual race allows us to avoid any chance of spreading the virus while still enjoying the opportunity to participate in a great event,” said Debra Iwaniec of Cook Township, race director and mother of Kenton Iwaniec, a state trooper in Chester County who was fatally injured in 2008 when his vehicle was struck head-on by an intoxicated driver.

Since then, the annual race held in his memory has raised enough money to provide 1,800 preliminary breath testing devices, to help law enforcement officers crack down on drunken driving.

The foundation has received applications for more than 130 new units, so Acacia Houck of Scottdale, Kenton Iwaniec’s sister, hopes people will continue to support the race in its revised format.

“We felt we didn’t want to cancel the event,” Houck said. “We knew we needed to continue with the fundraising.”

Now in its 11th year, the spring race usually attracts up to 900 runners and walkers, to finish a course ranging from one mile to 10 kilometers. For the past two years, an alternative virtual race was offered for those unable to make it to the college, resulting in more than 200 off-site participants last year.

“With everything happening now, since we already had that virtual race, we think we’ve established a natural transition,” Houck said.

Race registration, which was at about 200 participants as of Tuesday , continues at trooperiwaniec.org/takeoff-race-1 for a $30 fee, $15 for children. “That puts us a little bit ahead of where we were at this time last year,” Houck said.

She noted less than a dozen of those who had intended to complete the race at the college have asked for a registration fee refund. Other options for those who don’t want to switch to the virtual race include continuing their registration to next year’s event, planned for April 17, 2021, or donating their tax-deductible fee to the foundation.

Virtual participants will walk or run on April 18 at a place and time of their choosing and are encouraged to share images of their effort through social media, using the hashtag #trooperiwaniec.

Event T-shirts will be mailed later to participants, or they may be available for pick-up, if organizers determine that’s a safe and appropriate option.

Another factor in moving to a virtual event was the strong support the race has received from Saint Vincent College, which has responded to coronavirus concerns by switching to online coursework and closing its residence halls through the end of the spring semester.

“We had 150 Saint Vincent students who were planning to volunteer at the race,” said Houck. “We are so blessed to have such a wonderful connection with the college. We want to make sure we’re doing the best thing for the college and the community.”