Freeholders Laud 7-Year-Old Fundraiser -- Proclaim March 11 Cheetah Sprint Day in Morris County

Published on February 23, 2017

MORRIS TOWNSHIP GIRL CREATES EVENT ON BEHALF OF ENDANGERED CHEETAHS

(JPG, 191KB) (l/r) Freeholders Doug Cabana and Kathy DeFillippo, Heather McDermott of Superhero Events; Stella, Katherine and John Coyle, Freeholders Deborah Smith, Hank Lyon, and Christine Myers

In the presence of 7-year-old race organizer and fundraiser Stella Coyle of Morris Township, the Morris County Board of Freeholders yesterday proclaimed March 11, 2017, as Cheetah Sprint Day in Morris County.

Stella, who attends the Unity Charter School in Morristown, is the creator of the upcoming, March 11, Morristown Cheetah Sprint.

It is a one-mile fundraising fun run'' to be held at Ginty Field in Morris Township prior to the annual St. Paddy€˜s Day 5K run.

Stella has a love of animals and is concerned about possible extinction of the cheetah. She also loves running €“ having run the St. Paddy's Day 5 K with her parents since age 4!

So, with the help of her dad, John Coyle; her teacher, Kimberly McCurnin; and the generous assistance folks at Superhero Events (http://superheroracing.com/), Stella combined her two passions to create this fundraiser for the Cheetah Conservation Fund (www.Cheetah.org).(JPG, 27KB)

On Wednesday morning, in a room full of adults, Stella took center stage at the Freeholder Board meeting and read a promotional pitch for the race and her cause.

She is a remarkable young lady, with great poise,'' said Freeholder Director Doug Cabana, who posed for photos with Stella. The Freeholders are proud to issue this proclamation on her behalf, wish her well with the race and in raising money for her cause.''

Joining Stella at the meeting were her mom and dad, Katherine and John Coyle; Unity Charter School teacher Kimberly McCurnin and Director of Curriculum and Instruction Jilliane Steelman; and Heather McDermott of Superhero Events.

To register for the Cheetah Sprint, visit: http://cheetah.org/event/morristown-cheetah-sprint-one-mile-charity-race/

(JPG, 148KB) (l/r) Freeholder Doug Cabana, Katherine Coyle, Stella Coyle, Freeholder Deborah Smith, teacher Kimberly McCurnin, and John Coyle

FREEHOLDER PROCLAMATION:

Whereas, Ginty Field in Morris Township will be the home of the first-ever Morristown Cheetah Sprint fundraiser on the morning of March 11, 2017, with runners and walkers of all ages and abilities invited to participate in this truly positive event, and

Whereas, the Cheetah Run is a creation of Morris Township first-grader and Unity Charter School student Stella Coyle, who loves cheetahs and loves to run €“ she has run in the St. Paddy's Day 5K at Ginty Field each year since she was age 4, and

Whereas, this race is a fundraiser for the Cheetah Conservation Fund, which was founded in the African country of Namibia in 1990, and is dedicated to saving cheetahs from extinction in the wild, and features a world class research facility that is home to groundbreaking research in the biology, ecology and genetics of the cheetah, and

Whereas, with generous assistance of Superhero Racing, Stella's dream to combine her love of running with her love for animals is now a reality, and she is asking the residents of Morris County to join her on race day course on the morning of May 11, and to consider staying for the St. Paddy's Day 5K, which follows, as well, and

Whereas, the Morris County Board of Chosen Freeholders applauds this initiative by this inspiring young person, and thanks her parents, Katherine and John; the teachers and administrators at Unity Charter School, and Super Hero Events for their encouragement and assistance with this outstanding effort;

Now Therefore, I, Douglas R. Cabana, Director of the Morris County Board of Chosen Freeholders, proclaim March 11, 2017, to be Morristown Cheetah Sprint Day in Morris County, and congratulates Stella Coyle for a job well done.