The Dustin Doyon Memorial Road Race is scheduled for May 28. The race will begin at the Suffield Middle School and is a down and back course on Hill Street ending at the Middle School. The 5K run/walk begins at 9:55 a.m. for 3.1 miles while the 10K begins 9:50 a.m., a 6.2 mile course. There are no COVID restrictions such as masks and vaccines. For the first time the event will be professionally timed.
Pre-registration is preferred, however, there will be registration on the day of the race. Online registration can be made at https://runfordustin.weebly.com/. Bibs may be picked up before the race from 8 a.m. to 9:35 a.m. and for race day registrations.
Money raised will go to a scholarship in Dustin’s name. The applicants should have a passion for running and be a high school student. The purpose of the race and the scholarship is to make sure that the legacy of Dustin is never forgotten.
Dustin Doyon was a 26-year-old sailor serving in the Navy in the South Pacific when his ship collided with another. The destroyer, USS John McCain, was badly damaged and several young men died as a result, including Dustin. He was an electronics technician in communications for the McCain itself, as well as for sea to shore contacts whenever needed.
Dustin spent his freshman year at Suffield High School and then transferred to Cathedral High in Springfield where he was a star in cross country and track. His sister Annette wrote about her brother’s philosophy: We of all ages should be inspired to set goals, whether large or small and to never give up, to never stop, and to keep pedaling in this race of life.