Mayfair raises $10k as part of daylong neighborhood celebration

The Mayfair Business Association‘s third annual Mayfair May Fair and the second annual Fallen Heroes 5K Run were held on Saturday.

The event kicked off with the 5K run at 8:30 a.m. at Sackett Street and Ryan Avenue. Runners traveled around Pennypack Park and Abraham Lincoln High School, and finished at the Mayfair Memorial Playground at Rowland Avenue and Vista Street.

Mayfair Civic Association President Joe DeFelice said roughly just under 300 people ran the race. They raised a little more than $10,000.

All of the proceeds are to benefit the rebuilding of Mayfair Memorial Playground and the Hero Thrill Show Fund, which provides for the children of Philadelphia police officers and firefighters killed or disabled in the line of duty.

Each year, money is given to the fund in the name of one fallen police officer or firefighter. This year, the honoree was John Redmond, a firefighter from the neighborhood who died at the Rising Sun Baptist Church Fire in South Philadelphia in 1994.

Following an award ceremony at the playground, the Fair began along Frankford Avenue from Rhawn Street to Harbison Avenue. It included live music, give-aways, sidewalk sales from local businesses and free food.

The May Fair was founded 3 years ago by Grey Lodge owner and Mayfair Business Association President Mike “Scoats” Scotese, as a way to bring family entertainment to Frankford Avenue and to bolster commerce and community.

DeFelice came up with the idea for the 5K five years ago. “The idea was that South Philly had the mummers, Manayunk had the bike race, and many other neighborhoods had runs, but we lacked in both,” he said. “The original idea was a five miler up and down Frankford Ave, but we are not quite there yet.”

DeFelice stressed the importance of the events by suggesting they show community pride. He referred to the events as excellent “When it is a lazy Saturday in May and there are 300 people running in a race to honor one of their neighbors, or over a thousand people up and down the Ave listening to live bands, eating at the local shops, or stopping by the many stands set up.”

You can view our slideshow from the Frankford Avenue festivities here.

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