By JODI SOKOLOWSKI
Buffalo Law Journal

An elephant never forgets, and neither does attorney John Feroleto, who recalled a connection between his nephew, Buffalo Common Council member Michael LoCurto, and Marcena Lozano, both Buffalo residents who received heart transplants.

While LoCurto's body successfully accepted his heart and liver transplant, Lozano died at home Aug. 31, 2005, after her second heart transplant was rejected.

So, when Lozano's parents created the annual Elephant Race, named in honor of Marcena's "adoration of the elephant's sensitive, complex nature and highly protective extended family," Feroleto knew he had to help.

Feroleto, principal of John Feroleto Attorneys at Law, is the main sponsor of the race through $1,000 donations this year and in 2007.

"It's important to keep Marcena's memory alive, help people who have (had) transplants and, most important, bring attention to the need for transplant donors," said Feroleto, who ran the race last year with his son, John Patrick Feroleto, an assistant Erie County district attorney.

The inaugural race last year drew 442 participants and raised more than $14,500. It costs about $7,000 to put on.

All proceeds will benefit the Marcena Lozano Memorial Scholarship Fund, which was created to help organ-transplant recipients go to college. Lozano's goal was to become a social worker and aid chronically ill children. Last year, four scholarships of $3,000 each were awarded out of the proceeds.

Lozano's mother said even when Marcena was told that she would need a second heart transplant at 23 - her first came at 13 - she said, "OK. Let's get it moving so I can get back to school."

Lori Lozano said the race is not only therapeutic for the family but is a way to combine her husband's love of running and Marcena's enthusiasm for life into a family-friendly Mother's Day event.

"The way (Marcena) looked at it (was), what better way to honor her donors by making the most of each day," Lori Lozano said. "The minute she could get back on her feet, we couldn't hold her down."

 

The 2008 Elephant Run

Sunday, May 11, Delaware Park Casino. Registration begins at 7 a.m., race time is 9 a.m.

4-mile run/walk is $18 pre-event, $20 day of race; 1-mile "fun run"/walk is $10 pre-event, $12 day of event. No fee for the kids' 50- or 100-yard dash.

Pre-registration from 5-8 p.m. Friday and 5-7 p.m. Saturday at Side Bar, 1459 Hertel Ave.

For more information, visit www.theelephantrun.com.