Spirit soars as students get ready to run

Danette Goulet

NEWPORT BEACH -- Just two months after having knee surgery, 10-year-old

Katie O’Donnell will tie her sneakers and take a number for Spirit Run

2000 next month.

“I’m going to try,” Katie said. “I really want to run.”

Since her surgery in December, Katie has gone through physical therapy

and has now begun practicing running -- all so she can join her

classmates for the run.

“My mom keeps telling me to take it easy,” she said. But Katie says she

loves participating and doesn’t want to let her school down.

That was the sentiment across the board at Lincoln Elementary School on

Friday morning when hundreds of students gathered to gear up for the

Spirit Run with a pep rally.

When Lincoln Principal Rosemary Munoz asked how many people planned to

run, almost all of the little hands shot up, as well as many adults’.

“You can tell how excited everyone is by the yelling,” Katie said.

Lucy Steinberg, who along with her husband, sports superagent Leigh

Steinberg, is the main sponsor of the event, spoke to students

encouraging them and wishing them luck.

“We love this community,” she said. “All of our kids have gone to public

school here.”

Steinberg also believes in practicing what he preaches.

“He requires all off his clients to give back,” Lucy Steinberg said of

her husband. “They have to retrace their roots, first to their high

school, then college, then sometimes their present community. It works

well for everyone.”

The Steinbergs’ $60,000 donation, to be used for the next three years,

will work well for the four Newport Beach elementary schools that run in

Orange County’s largest children’s race. This year, Lincoln, Harbor View,

Andersen and Eastbluff elementary schools are all participating in and

benefiting from the 17th annual run.

Since the fund-raiser began, it has earned more than $1 million for the

schools.

This year, organizers expect to draw more than 10,000 runners and

spectators and raise more than $120,000 to split between the schools.

“I’m really excited about it,” said 9-year-old Timmy Winning. “I go

halfway around Fashion Island.”

In the spirit of the event, Katie will give it her best shot to join her

classmate on the other side of the shopping center.

FYI

* WHAT: Sprit Run 2000

* WHO: Newport Beach elementary school students participate and benefit

from the run.

* WHEN: 7 a.m. Feb. 27

* INFO: Call (949) 640-6314