Monika Oberer and Grayson Tullio decided they wanted to carry a different kind of torch during this year's Boo Run in Lakewood Ranch.
Oberer a longtime supporter of the Lakewood Ranch Running Club event and now its benefitting organizations — The Humane Society of Lakewood Ranch and Tullio's Another Day for Gray (in support of Duchenne muscular dystrophy) — got together with Tullio to discuss this year's theme.
They dress in coordination each year in that theme. This year Oberer ran the race dressed as the Statue of Liberty while Tullio was Uncle Sam.
"We think it is important that everyone votes," Oberer said.
Approximately 560 people participated in the 5K event, which started and finished in the FCCI Insurance Group parking lot. Funds go to the two benefitting organizations.
Tullio said such fundraisers are important in the quest to find a cure for Duchenne muscular dystrophy.
"Do I wish we were farther along? Yes," Tullio said. "But they have made substantial progress."
The race, which used to draw 1,000 runners before COVID, is starting to build back up. Last year's race drew 480 runners.
Jacob Gallego, 4, is getting ready to "waddle" through the kids race with support from his mom, Lakewood Ranch's Cassie Gallego.
Photo by Jay Heater
Lakewood Ranch batdog Ruby and Batwoman Rebekah Boudrie decided to hang around at the Boo Run.
Photo by Jay Heater
Bradenton's Jamarie Rutledge says his best friend Sammy Levita of the Inlets usually is the fastest Thing, but they hit the finish line of the Boo Run at the same time.
Photo by Jay Heater
Panda the dog races along the Boo Run route with Monika Oberer and Grayson Tullio, who dressed as the Statue of Liberty and Uncle Sam to remind people to vote on Election Day.
Parrish's Dawn Barnett and Lisa Morgan say they were looking for something fun to do, so they put on orange skirts and headed to the Boo Run.
Photo by Jay Heater
Lakewood Ranch Running Club's Erika Nogueira and Russ Weltzien get ready to hand out runners' medals.
Photo by Jay Heater
Lakewood Ranch's David Proudfoot pulls away to win the Boo Run for the third consecutive year.
Photo by Jay Heater
Lakewood Ranch High senior Dylan Johnson was the runner-up in the Boo Run.
Photo by Jay Heater
Mallory Schmidt celebrates as Greg Simony pushes her across the finish line in the Boo Run.
Photo by Jay Heater
Lakewood Ranch's Maureen Flaherty and Laura Brady have been best friends for 21 years and they decided to do something different by walking in the Boo Run.
Photo by Jay Heater
Bradenton's Joseph Farabee has a yabba dabba doo good time in the Boo Run with his dog Merl.
Photo by Jay Heater
Sarasota's Phyllis Weitzner and Phoenix, Arizona's Becky Pollitt are ready to bear down in the Boo Run.
Photo by Jay Heater
Amanda Patten of North Port and her fairy wings soar across the finish line at the Boo Run.
Photo by Jay Heater
Slim Chickens Shift Manager Jenna Herbert and restaurant co-owner Tommy Elmahdi get ready to serve the runners. Slim Chickens was a major race sponsor.
Photo by Jay Heater
The 2024 Boo Run is off and running in Lakewood Ranch.
Photo by Jay Heater
Captain America, also known as Jonathan Russell, runs to the rescue at the Boo Run.
Photo by Jay Heater
Former Boo Run Race Director Jen Tullio plays the role of photographer in the 2024 race.
Photo by Jay Heater
Race Director Carl Albano gives final directions before starting the Boo Run, which drew about 550 participants.
Photo by Jay Heater
Lakewood Ranch's Ashley Clark of the Lakewood Ranch Running Club, puts a medal on her 5-year-old son Tristan after he competed in the kids run.
Photo by Jay Heater
Sarasota Memorial's Angela Duffy, a clinical lead in urgent care, and Sarah Cook, a nurse, work a booth at the Boo Run.
Photo by Jay Heater
Boo Run assistant director Stephen Crescenti, Monika Oberer and Race Director Carl Albano join Grayson Tullio (front) before the fundraiser.
Photo by Jay Heater
The Florida Premier Under 13 soccer team was represented at the Boo Run, including Bryce Yeater, Luke Mazurkiewicz, Henry Windhorst, Jayden Campos, Connor Mulligan, and Trey Maxey.
Photo by Jay Heater
No bones about it, Sarasota's Kate Gerber gives her 6-year-old Graham and her 3-year-old Ben a fun ride in the Boo Run.
Photo by Jay Heater
Lakewood Ranch's Cassie Gallego and 4-year-old Jacob Gallego are happy to reach the finish line of the Boo Run.
Jay Heater is the managing editor of the East County Observer. Overall, he has been in the business more than 41 years, 26 spent at the Contra Costa Times in the San Francisco Bay area as a sportswriter covering college football and basketball, boxing and horse racing.
