Muscarella Family to Receive Vision of Hope Award

The Muscarellas of Garden City will receive the 2013 Vision of Hope Award during Voices Against Brain Cancer's Sept. 22 "Run For Rob" charitable run/walk.

The family of the late Dr. Robert Bernstein, a member of the Long Island community who passed away from brain cancer in 2010, established the event three years ago. Mr. Muscarella also passed away in 2010 from a malignant brain tumor, and is survived by his wife and four children.

Mr. Muscarella lived in Garden City at the time of his passing. He was active in the community, having served as a head coach of numerous teams within the Garden City Athletic Association (GCAA), including girls' soccer and boys' soccer, baseball and football. He also served as a member of the Garden City Chamber of Commerce and a former president, vice president, secretary and treasurer of the Western Property Owners' Association.

In Elmont, where he lived before moving to Garden City, Mr. Muscarella was president and trustee of the Elmont Community Coalition Council and the Elmont East End Civic Association, president of the Elmont North Republican Club, Sergeant-at-Arms of the Elmont Chamber of Commerce, a member of the Order Sons of Italy, America Lodge 2245, and commissioner of Sanitary District 6.

The Muscarella family will receive the Vision of Hope Award because of their continued remembrance of Mr. Muscarella, their strength in the face of their sorrow and for their dedication to finding a cure for brain cancer, according to a press release.

“Run for Rob” will bring together brain cancer survivors, medical pioneers and others who have been affected by the disease, who will all help raise funds to further advance research.

Each year approximately 210,000 people in the United States will be diagnosed with a primary or metastatic brain tumor; that's more than 575 people a day, according to the National Brain Tumor Society. 

The “Run for Rob” 5K Run/Walk will take place at Eisenhower Park Field 2 (enter through Park Blvd. off of Hempstead Turnpike). Registration begins at 8:15 a.m. The run/walk begins at 9 a.m. Registration available onsite or via voicesinmotion.org/runforrob. Cost: Adults $25; Children $15.