Patty's Race 2003

Lee - According to the official results, Ty Thurlow and Anneliese Schumm were the male and female overall winners, respectfully, at Sunday's (May 4, 2003) Patricia Lynn Corbin Memorial Walk / Run. The biggest winner, though was the scholarship fund set up in tribute to Patty, who died last year in a car crash on Interstate 95 returning home from an after-school appointment.

The Patricia Lynn Corbin Memorial Scholarship Fund netted about $4,500 as a result of entry fees and sponsorships made by over 300 registered participants and over 80 sponsoring individuals and businesses.

A total of 303 people walked or ran the 3.14 mile course, participants from as far away as Washington State and Kuwait.

The turnout on a bright, sunny spring afternoon was particularly heartening to Michael Corbin, Patty's father, who helped organize the event along with Lee Academy and the Lee Running Club. "The overwhelming support shown to our family by the coming together of this community in the wake of our tragedy is a real tribute to Patty's memory", he wrote in a thank-you to those involved.

Before the race started on the front lawn of LA, Thurlow sang the Star Spangled Banner to kick off the day, earning a round of applause from racers and spectators alike. Thurlow is a freshman at the University of Maine in Farmington.

Then, it was down to the business of racing - or, as many chose to do, walking.

Less than 20 minutes after finishing the national anthem, Thurlow left the rest of the pack in his dust, turning in a time of 19 minutes, 39 seconds to be the first across the finish line.

Always a competitor, Thurlow said that he had to win this race. "I knew I had to (win) Patty's race", he said later. "Being a teammate with her for three years (on the cross country team), I kind of had a little extra incentive". He said his strategy was simple - get out ahead and stay there. Which he did.

The first mile of the course included part of Lee Academy's cross country course, with lots of hilly terrain. "That was a hard first mile", Thurlow said.

Once he found out about the race, Thurlow said he knew what his plans were for May 4, "No doubt", he added.

Patty Corbin was a well-loved member of the LA community, remembered by many for her caring personality and an ever-present smile. Many members of the community, from current and former students to teachers and others, ran or walked their way through the course, including Patty's family, her parents Michael and Robin, and brothers Jay and Matthew. In some cases, people opted to cross the finish line together, including parents and children, boyfriends and girlfriends, and friends and classmates.

Although some were astonstonished at the large turnout for Sunday's race, Thurlow said he wasn't surprised. "I knew there would be a lot of people coming (to the race), if not for Patty, but to show support for the Corbin family", he said.

The first Patricia Lynn Corbin Memorial Scholarship will be awarded during Lee Academy's graduation ceremony early next month.