MOVING FORWARD — Many walkers made their way from Toronto Red Knights Stadium on North River Avenue during the Biasi-Shuma Memorial 5K Run on Saturday. About 245 runners and walkers participated in the annual race, which raised more than $22,000 for the Ohio Valley American Heart Association and United Way of Jefferson County and a scholarship for a local high school graduate. -- Warren Scott

TORONTO — About 245 runners and walkers made their way from Toronto Red Knights Stadium to the south end of the city and back on Saturday morning, raising more than $22,000 for three charitable causes.

Proceeds from the Biasi-Shuma Memorial 5K Run will go to the Ohio Valley American Heart Association, United Way of Jefferson County and a scholarship for a local high school graduate, said Lexi Biasi, who organizes the annual race with her father, Mike.

The two expressed thanks to the many who participated and the many businesses and organizations who have sponsored it.

Mike also expressed appreciation to the Toronto Kiwanis Club, which serves as the nonprofit entity through which the donations and proceeds are run; and to his family and friends for the hard work they put in for it each year.

“Raising $22,000 is not easy,” he said.

ON THE RUN — Many runners made their way along North River Avenue in Toronto during the Biasi-Shuma Memorial 5K Run on Saturday. About 245 runners and walkers participated in the annual race, which raised more than $22,000 for the Ohio Valley American Heart Association and United Way of Jefferson County and a scholarship for a local high school graduate. -- Warren Scott

Mike confirmed he has participated in the past and said because Lexi has done such a good job of organizing in the last three or four years, he may step back into it in the future.

The run is very much a family affair, with runners and walkers including many family members, including relatives of Gino Biasi and Mike Shuma, for whom it’s named.

Gino, who died in 2016 at the age of 85, was owner of Valley Converting, a local paper recycling company now owned by Mike, his son.

An Italian immigrant, he served in the Army during the Korean War and attended Syracuse University on the G.I. Bill. He went on to earn a master’s degree in business administration from Xavier University.

Gino was named the Toronto Chamber of Commerce’s Co-Businessman of the Year and the Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce’s Industrialist of the Year.

Shuma was employed by TIMET Metals Corp. and worked for a time at the Weirton Millsop Community Center prior to his death, following a heart attack, at age 42.

As a regular on the Ohio Valley Game Night radio program, he shared his knowledge and love of local football.

Among many walking the race route this year was Tammy Koutsky of Rayland, who was accompanied by her canine companion, Cookie, a Catahoula-leopard mix.

“This is her first 5K,” said Koutsky, who noted the two have walked the athletic track at Buckeye Local High School many times.

“She’s a people dog, so this is a good environment for her,” she said.

Koutsky said she usually walks one or two races a year, just for the exercise, and was motivated to take part in the Biasi-Shuma 5K Run because of a family member who has dealt with heart disease.

“That’s what kind of brought me here,” she said.

Buck Nemitt of Toronto said he and his wife, Kim, started walking a few years ago to improve their health.

“She walks faster than me, so I told her you just do what you want and I’ll see you at the finish line,” he said.

Nemitt added they hope to participate in two other Toronto races this year to earn a medal awarded to those who complete the Quadfecta Challenge.

The Quadfecta Challenge encompasses four Toronto charity runs.

In addition to the Biasi-Shuma 5K Run, it includes: the Pat Campbell Fighting Cancer 5K Run, which was held in March; the Louann Burchfield/Kathy Hannan Hale Colors of Cancer Memorial 5K, which will be held Aug. 9; and the T-Town Turkey Trot, which will be held on the morning of Thanksgiving Day.

Online registration for the Colors of Cancer Memorial 5K has begun and can be found at runsignup.com/Race/OH/Toronto/ColorsofCancerMemorial5k.