The Jog for The Jake, a 5K road race, will be held Sunday, June 20, 2004, Father's Day, in Delaware Park, in memory of the late Dr. Lawrence Jacobs, former Head of the Department of Neurology at the State University of New York at Buffalo and Chief of The Jacobs Neurological Institute at Buffalo General Hospital. He was also a world-renowned multiple sclerosis researcher, who developed interferon beta-1a as the first medication proven to slow or stop the progression of disability due to MS.

Special guest David Lander, best known for his portrayal of "Squiggy" on TV's "Laverne & Shirley," will be in town for a multiple sclerosis program on Saturday, June 19 (to register, call 800-522-5185), and at the race. Five-time Olympian Francie Larrieu Smith will be on hand during race pre-registration at Fleet Feet Sports, 892 Elmwood Avenue, Buffalo from 10 a.m. to noon. She set 12 world track records and 36 U.S. records during her career. She also will be available after the race on Sunday to talk with runners and recall her dream that led her to the Olympics.

Lander will speak at a special MS program for those interested in or newly-diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, at the Marriott Hotel from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday. Lander was diagnosed with MS in 1984 and kept it secret for 15 years for fear it would affect his acting career. He made his diagnosis public in 1999 and later that year traveled to Buffalo, where he consulted Dr. Jacobs. Lander has written a book on his experiences, entitled Fall Down Laughing: How Squiggy Got Multiple Sclerosis and Didn't Tell Nobody. Lander also will be on hand Sunday at the park to meet runners and their families and to offer some post-race humor.

He will be joined by Frederick Munschauer III, M.D., who will speak on the latest advances in research and MS drug therapies. Dr. Munschauer is Professor of Clinical Neurology and Internal Medicine at the State University of New York at Buffalo School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences. He also is Chief of The Jacobs Neurological Institute.

Larrieu Smith will lead a special one-mile Kids' Race at 8:45 a.m., after a quick warm-up at 8:30. All participants will receive a finish award and T-shirt, and have an opportunity to participate in an event designed to encourage fitness and fun in memory of Dr. Jacobs. Kids can run the one-mile distance accompanied by an adult or on their own, with adult supervision.

A post-race party will be held at the Nichols Amherst Street Campus and will feature plenty of food and cold beverages. Children can enjoy face painting, a bounce house and more.

Registration for the 5K race is $17 on or before June 12, 2004 and $20 after June 12. Age groups include: 14 years and under, 15-19 yrs., 20-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65-69, 70-79, and 80 and over. Race-day registration is available beginning at 7:30 a.m. at the Nichols Amherst Street Campus.

Each first place age group finisher, male and female, receives a $50 gift certificate to Fleet Feet Sports. Overall male and female receive a $100 gift certificate to Fleet Feet Sports. Masters (40 and older) male and female receives a $100 gift certificate to Fleet Feet. Second and third place finishers will receive a JOG cap, compliments of New Era Cap. No duplicate awards. Finish line by Emery Fisher.

Dr. Jacobs, known as "The Jake," by friends and colleagues, died in November, 2001 after a short battle with cancer. Race Directors are Susan Epstein, Director of the Lawrence Jacobs Center for Comprehensive Care, part of The Jacobs Neurological Institute at Buffalo General, and Rich Grimm, a local attorney.

Epstein is a former world-class runner who, in the 1980s, just missed making the Olympic team, and was a contemporary of Joan Benoit, Larrieu-Smith and Bill Rodgers. The former Susan King was a star at the University of Alabama, finished third in the 1983 Boston Marathon and traveled the world, competing as a sponsored runner.

All proceeds from the race will go the Lawrence D. Jacobs, MD Memorial Fund, and support patient care and research at The Jacobs Neurological Institute. Research by Dr. Jacobs and his team resulted in the development of interferon beta-1a, or Avonex, as it is known, the first medication proven to slow or stop the progression of disability due to relapsing MS, the most common form of the disease. The JNI cares for not only MS patients, but is doing research and treating patients for stroke and heart disease and other neurological conditions, and has developed a state-of-the-art neuroimaging center.

Major sponsors for the race include Biogen Inc., Delaware North Companies, and Fleet Private Clients Group.

For more information on the Jog for The Jake, call Laurie Elliott Krajna at 716-859-7566 or visit us at www.jogforthejake.com!