Sean’s Run Weekend Background

In 2002, Sean’s Run began as a community’s response to the unthinkable tragedy of the sudden death of a popular and record setting distance runner as a passenger in an underage drunk driving car crash.  It is only right that a footrace would memorialize Sean Patrick French’s life. He was one of the finest local high school athletes of his generation.  As a 10th grader he placed second in the New York State Public High School cross-country championships and the following spring, at age 16, Sean ran the fastest mile of any sophomore in the State—4:18!  He took four firsts at both the Section II and the Patroon Conference championship track meets. That would be his final track and field season. 

More extraordinary, though, were his “non-running” attributes. A Sports Illustrated article, published three months after his death, described Sean as “selfless,” “gracious,” “caring,” “hard-working” — a “young goodwill ambassador who led by example in Chatham, in the running community, and beyond.” The article noted that, “When 3,000 people attend the funeral services of a 17-year old, it is evidence that a community has lost someone recognized as very special.” 

But Sean’s Run was more than a remembrance of one teen’s life; it was a community rising to say that losses like this are unacceptable.

It was a reminder that underage drinking is no harmless rite of passage, but rather a dangerous flirtation with disaster.

Scheduled purposefully in the middle of high school prom season, Sean’s Run Weekend was more than an annual event that attracted thousands of runners, bicyclists and walkers to enjoy the fun of participating in a well-produced event with its many amenities – Sean’s Run was a reminder that a moment’s bad judgment can result in tragedy. Underage drinking, impaired driving, or failure to use seatbelts can take the lives of our children.

Each Sean’s Run Weekend reminded us that drunk driving crashes–like the one on January 1, 2002 that claimed the life of Sean Patrick French–are preventable when communities work together.

These Things Made Us Most Proud

18 years of growth in scale and impact – thanks to outstanding and generous community support, what started as a single footrace that attracted 418 runners grew into a charity that implemented and supported year-round projects and produced a weekend-long community event comprised of multiple activities attracting nearly 25,000 participants and volunteers over 18 years and raising $500,000 for education programs and scholarships benefitting thousands of young people across the region.

Our Critical Mission – Sean’s Run was a community’s response to the tragic death of Sean Patrick French, the 17-year-old Chatham High School junior, honor roll student, community volunteer and record-setting athlete who lost his life on January 1, 2002 as a passenger in a drunk-driving car crash. Another 17-year-old passenger sustained paralyzing injuries and the intoxicated driver, also 17, was a schoolmate who had been arrested previously for drunk driving, just 18 days before the fatal crash.  Our mission remained focused on year-round efforts to combat the dangers of underage drinking, impaired driving and failure of teens to use seatbelts.  Car crashes remain the number one cause of death for teenagers; over a third of fatal crashes are alcohol-involved and nearly 2/3 of all teens killed in car crashes were not using seatbelts.

Fatalities have steadily decreased – fatalities that are attributed to drinking drivers in Columbia County declined. In 2002 (the year Sean French was killed) there were 9. There were 2 alcohol-involved fatalities in in the county in 2016. 

The Support of our community, businesses and community organizations – the success and growth of Sean’s Run would not have been possible without the support of

1. Sponsors comprised of local, regional and national businesses as well as local organizations, foundations and individuals that contributed generous sponsorships,
   
   
2. Hundreds of volunteers helped as organization officers, committee members and event-day volunteers,
   
   
3. the Chatham Central School District and the Columbia County Agricultural Society provided the venues for the event,
   
   
4. the Village of Chatham, Chatham Police Department, Chatham Fire Department and Chatham Rescue Squad offered support and assistance, and
   
   
5. the Columbia County Sherriff’s Department, NY State Police, and Kinderhook Elks all joined in to help produce a safe and well-organized Sean’s Run Weekend.

BEST Community Event-Spring in Columbia County! – For four (4) years Sean’s Run was voted as “Best Community Event-Spring” through a contest of the Columbia County Chamber of Commerce and Register Star. (2015, 2016, 2017, 2018)

Acclaimed on the floor of the US House of Representatives by Congressman Chris Gibson (NY CD 19) on April 14, 2016 in a five-minute address televised nationally on C-SPAN and included in the Congressional Record, Sean’s Run is now documented as a part of our national history.

The Battle of the Belts – Sean’s Run organizers conceived and implemented this innovative approach to combat underage drinking, impaired driving and lax use of seatbelts by teens.  Teachers, parents and school administrators told us the Battle of the Belts is an effective approach to changing teenagers’ attitudes and behaviors.   The World Championship Battle of the Belts was first introduced at the 5th annual Sean’s Run as a fun and rollicking way to increase teenagers’ use of seatbelt use.

Developed a grant-making process to support schools and youth groups – each year since the second annual event in 2003, a request for proposals was made available to schools and youth groups to apply for Sean’s Run grants that supported prevention education programs including the Battle of the Belts.   Thousands of students across the region learned important lessons they will carry for a lifetime.

Prevention Education Expo – this element of Sean’s Run included informational booths and exhibits by a variety of community and government agencies, prevention education organizations, youth development programs and wellness providers. These groups were set up inside the Chatham High School gymnasium during Sean’s Run Weekend.

Praised by Educators – The advisors from school and youth groups which were awarded Sean’s Run grants told us our event, specifically the grants program, the Prevention Education Expo, and the World Championship Battle of the Belts, is the most effective approach to improving behaviors and attitudes of teenagers pertaining to safe choices and driving.  We estimated each year over 2,000 students participated in programs initiated by Sean’s Run.

Sean’s Run Remembered Victims of Drunk Driving – Every 31 minutes, someone is killed by a drunk driver in the United States – almost 50 per day according to Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD).  Hundreds more suffer physical and emotional injury because of drunk drivers, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. And the anguish caused by this trauma never fully dissipates.

Each year Sean’s Run extended a warm welcome to the hundreds of people in our region who have been impacted by an impaired driver. These people have been forced to endure the pain of suddenly loosing of a loved one or have personally suffered physical injury. Victims and survivors were provided complimentary entry and were invited to wear a small placard with the name of the individual they wish to remember or honor as they walk or run. The placards give names to those who have suffered and those who wore the placards gave faces to the impact of drunk driving.

Dedication to a young victim – each year the Organizing Committee dedicated the event to a young person from the capital area who lost their life in an alcohol-involved car crash.  We wanted to underscore the ongoing problem and to inspire other young people and families to make safe choices.  We wanted to offer the family of the victim a small measure of solace through our remembrance.

Safety Tree – Sean’s Run was the organizational impetus that commenced the Columbia-Greene Counties Safety Tree, located at entrance of the Emergency Room of Columbia Memorial Hospital.  This evergreen tree with lights serves as a living, permanent memorial to those from the Twin Counties who lost their lives due to drunk/impaired drivers.

A special race for people with special needs – Jaime’s Race was designed for people with developmental and intellectual disabilities who are unable to participate in the 5K or Meghan’s Mile.  Participants were provided their own extraordinary event that provides the same amenities provided to participants in the other foot races of Sean’s Run Weekend.

Bike Rides acclaimed in GranFondo Review – this website, a favorite of bicyclists across the country who participate in organized rides, published an outstanding review of our 50-mile ride in 2015. The review complimented the organization of the event, the quality of the route and the array of outstanding amenities offered riders.

Greene County (NY) District Attorney Joseph Stanzione praised Sean’s Run in April 2019 during our Safety Tree Observation to memorialize victims of drunk driving. He explained that the work of Sean’s Run had inspired him to commence Victim Impact Panels in his county that were proven to be effective in deterring repeat offenses of drunk driving.

Former Columbia County (NY) Sheriff David Harrison stated that Sean’s Run is a most effective way to “spread the word” about the dangers of underage drinking and impaired driving. His endorsement of Sean’s Run since its inception has been a source of pride for Sean’s Run.

Former District Attorney Beth Cozzolino stated that the efforts of Sean’s Run has had a stunning impact on the reduction in alcohol involved crashes in our county over the past decade.  

Roger Coleman, the past Publisher of the Hudson-Catskill Newspapers, stated that Sean’s Run is “one of the best” community events he had come to know during his career in the newspaper business. 

Child Safety Seat Inspection – The Columbia County Sherriff Department and Sean’s Run co-sponsor an annual child safety seat inspection on the weekend before Sean’s Run.

Driver Education Class – Taconic Associates Driving School and Sean’s Run co-sponsor an annual driver safety class in March.  Participants can receive a reduction in their car insurance or points reduction from their Driver’s License.

Event Guide – the Register Star published a magazine-style guide about the event through 2017 including glossy covers and full color photos to provide information to participants and event supporters. The guide was distributed as part of circulation of the Register Star and the Chatham Courier and given away at the event.

Ringing the Bell for the Salvation Army – the Organizing Committee dedicated a Saturday in December each year to support the Salvation Army by ringing the bells at the Red Kettle.

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