GAVYN'S FAVORITE 5K

Gavyn’s Favorite 5K Run for Joy. Make a Difference. Join us for the inaugural Gavyn’s Favorite 5K at Orient Beach State Park on Sunday, October 18, 2026, as we come together as a community to run, remember, and celebrate the life and legacy of Gavyn Drago. The name of this race has a very special meaning: this was Gavyn’s favorite 5K course to run. He loved racing at Orient Beach State Park for not only its breathtaking views, but especially for how flat and fast it was. Gavyn was always chasing his next goal and his next PR, and to him, this was the perfect course to do just that. So when it came time to choose a place to run in his memory, there was only one location that felt fitting. Gavyn’s Favorite 5K brings us back to a course he genuinely loved, to run the same roads he ran and to celebrate the joy, determination and competitive spirit he brought to every starting line. Gavyn was a 17-year-old senior at Mattituck  High School, captain of his track and cross-country teams, and a deeply loved son, nephew, cousin, teammate and friend. He was kind, funny, genuine and determined, and in his far-too-short life, he made an extraordinary impact on the people and community around him. Running was more than something Gavyn loved; it was woven into the very fabric of who he was. It shaped his identity, challenged him, gave him purpose, and became an important part of the person he grew to be. While not the fastest on his team(s), but no less determined, at 14 years old he decided he was going to run his first half marathon. And he did. By 17, he completed five half marathons, including the United Airlines NYC Half, and dreamed of one day running the New York City Marathon. For that, he said he would, "...put a 26.2 sticker on the car." Gavyn also lived with epilepsy, but he never allowed it to define what he could accomplish. Instead, he turned his own experience into an opportunity to help others, raising thousands of dollars for the Epilepsy Foundation through his running. Gavyn’s Favorite 5K was created so that all the miles Gavyn logged, and the impact he was already making, can continue. Proceeds from the race will benefit The Gavyn Avery Drago Foundation, established by Gavyn’s family to carry his legacy forward. The Foundation will support causes that reflect the things that mattered to Gavyn and the life he lived. Funds raised through the foundation will help advance vital research and scientific discovery dedicated to finding better treatments and working towards a cure for epilepsy. A portion of the proceeds will also go towards assisting families of teens living with this neurological disease - initiatives that we know Gavyn supported.  Whether you run, walk, volunteer, donate, or simply come out to support the people who loved Gavyn, we invite you to be part of the beginning of something we hope will continue for many years to come. Registration ends 10/17 at 5:00 PM. Register by 10/7 to guarantee your race shirt. In-person registration available on 10/18 starting at 7:30 AM. $40 per registrant Run for Joy. Make a Difference.  Sunday, October 18, 2026 Orient Beach State Park 5K Run & Walk