Run for the Hill of It beneficiary ‘very determined’

The Makowicz family of Spring City (Chester County): David, Noah, Hope, Heather and Nathaniel, at the Chestnut Hill Rotary Club meeting on June 22. (Photo by James Sturdivant)

by JAMES STURDIVANT

Run for the Hill of It beneficiary Nathaniel Makowicz and his family were formally introduced to the community at last week’s meeting of the Chestnut Hill Rotary Club — with Nathaniel himself serving as MC.

Every year, the Friends of Erik, a group of local residents and businesspeople, hold a 5K race on Forbidden Drive on the last Saturday in July and a dinner dance in the fall, with all proceeds going to the family of a severely ill or disabled child. Invited to the podium at the Rotary meeting by Friends of Erik co-chair Beth Breault, 8-year-old Nathaniel, who struggles with cerebral palsy, hydrocephalus, cortical visual impairment and epilepsy, introduced his family: parents Dave and Heather, little brother Noah, 3, and new baby sister Hope.

Born premature at 23 1/2 weeks, the most amazing thing about Nathaniel is his spirit of determination, Dave Makowicz told the audience.

“He is a very determined, very energetic young man who wants to make it in life,” he said. Nathaniel, who is extremely articulate for his age, has severe non-verbal delays that affect his ability to function at social events, his father added. He called his son’s appearance at the Rotary meeting “a tribute to his progress so far in how he’s coming along.”

Calling the Rotary’s reception “a humbling experience,” Dave Makowicz thanked the Friends of Erik for selecting his son and the Rotary for their annual volunteer assistance at the race event.

Breault, who spoke alongside Rotary member and race supporter Elliot Schwartz, called for volunteers on race day, which falls this year on July 30.

“We ask our volunteers to be there bright and early — 6 a.m. if you can take it,” she said. The group is also looking for volunteers to help with assembling race-day packets for runners at Borders Books in Chestnut Hill on the Wednesday evening before the race and with handing out the packets to runners at Borders on July 28 and 29 from 2 to 8 p.m. More information is available on the group’s Web site: www.runforthehillofit.org.

The USATF-certified 5-mile run and 1-mile fun walk kicks off at 8:30 a.m. on Saturday, July 30 at the corner of Northwestern Avenue and Forbidden Drive. The entry fee is $20 prior to July 20 ($25 after). To register for the race online or make a donation, visit the Web site or e-mail runforthehillofit@yahoo.com.