Patch: 'Andrew's Run' Honors Scout, On What Would Have Been His 18th Birthday

March 29, 2024 | by Lisa Finn

CALVERTON, NY — On what would have been Andrew McMorris's 18th birthday, the many who loved him will gather again for an event meant to celebrate his life and keep his legacy alive.

On Saturday, March 30, the Suffolk County Council of Boy Scouts of America and the Andrew McMorris Foundation will host the 3rd Annual Andrew’s Top Gun Run, to raise the funds for scholarships and for Scouting, which Andrew loved.

The event takes place on the runway at Enterprise Park at Calverton, located at 962 Burman Avenue, beginning at 8:30 a.m. with a Fun Run and a 5K beginning at 9 a.m. For information on the in-person and virtual runs, and for registration, donation and sponsorship details, click here.

Andrew McMorris of Wading River — a Boy Scout who was killed by a drunk driver in 2018 while out on a hike with his Boy Scout troop when he was just 12 years old — had dreams that soared. He loved aviation and longed to be a pilot one day. Until his life was cut cruelly short.

The event honors him in a place where his dreams of aviation soared: A flyover will take place at 10:25 a.m., "the moment Andrew came into the world," his parents said.

Just six years ago, Alisa McMorris, Andrew's mother said, their family was readying to fly to Disney World to celebrate their boy's 12th birthday — the last they would ever share.

"It's hard not to wonder 'what if?'" she said.

Speaking to Patch this week, Alisa McMorris said she and her husband John and their daughter Arianna strive to keep Andrew's memory alive through advocacy, fighting for change so that no other family ever has to endure such loss.

"It’s truly a privilege and an honor to host another 5K run/walk in memory of our 12-year-old son Andrew," Alisa and John said. "It means so much to our family to keep Andrew’s spirit and legacy alive by raising money for scholarships for our young leaders and to bring awareness to the dangers of drunk, drugged and impaired driving."

Alisa added: "Andrew would have turned 18 on the day of the race and Andrew would have approved of gathering family, friends and our community together to do something positive to help others. Andrew was a friend to everyone and always did his best to do the right thing and think about others before thinking of himself. Andrew’s Top Gun Run is being held with that same spirit because it captures who Andrew was. Coming together as a community and rallying around a positive cause in unison provides healing to all of us still deeply grieving the loss of our beloved son."

Andrew's family, his parents said, sincerely appreciate all the sponsors, volunteers and efforts everyone has made toward having another successful event.

Alisa said recently, while preparing her house for the guests arriving to run in the 5K she came across Andrew‘s time capsule.

"This was something John and I did for both of our children when they were born," she said. "It included letters from friends and family that were to be opened on their 18th birthday. Coming across this box was overwhelming."

She added: "When Arianna turned 18 it was full of joy and promise — and now I stare at the box with a painful ache, knowing that on the 30th, we will open it for Andrew as we had planned. It’s all very bittersweet, as we are surrounded by so much love and affection from our community, but the ache remains. And I think that’s part of this grief journey — knowing that the hole in our heart will always be there in the exact shape and size of Andrew."

But, she said, their family's life grows around that empty space. "John and I and Arianna are steadfast in our mission to carry Andrew's legacy and end this 100 percent preventable crime from happening to anyone else."

Reflecting on the days since she lost her precious boy, Alisa said: "In the first few days and weeks, I didn’t know if you would ever laugh again. Every smile felt like a betrayal — but now we all smile and laugh and cry together as we step forward. We are forever grateful for our friends, family and community for this unwavering support and can never thank them enough."

She added: "We are comforted by our faith. At Andrew’s funeral our minister quoted a Steven Curtis Chapman song from the album 'Beauty Will rise': 'This is not how it should be. This is not how it could be. But this is how it is, and our God is in control.'"

All participants will enjoy complimentary food and fun at the event. All proceeds will support both the Andrew McMorris Foundation and the Suffolk County Council of Boy Scouts.

Dr. Louis Scotti, Suffolk County Council president, reflected. "We are honored to partner with the Andrew McMorris Foundation in celebrating Andrew — and we are looking forward to another fantastic day."