‘Gavyn’s Favorite 5K’ turns Mattituck teen’s passion into a lasting legacy

Gavyn Drago used to love running in Stony Brook Eastern Long Island Hospital’s annual Walk to Recovery 5K in Orient.

He loved the course, how flat it was, and tried to set a new personal record every time he laced up. He was devastated when it was moved to Indian Island, even saying he was going to boycott it.

Gavyn died on Sept. 4 at 17 after being found unresponsive in a home swimming pool, just days into the school year. Three days later, at his funeral, there was a picture of him sporting a smile, which gave his parents the perfect idea of how to continue honoring him: bringing back the Orient race.

“We called the state just to see if it would be a possibility,” his father, Bryan, said. “They were like, ‘We can make it happen this year.’ We all need some way forward to keep Gavyn’s name and his spirit alive, and it just seemed this would be the perfect way to do it. Somehow, it’s actually coming to be, which is why I feel like Gavyn is smirking at us a little bit.”

The race — now called Gavyn’s Favorite 5K — is scheduled for Sunday, Oct. 18 at Orient Beach State Park at 9 a.m. There’s also a virtual sign-up option for those who wouldn’t be able to make it to run in Orient. Registration is online through Oct. 17.

“It’s like he’s saying to Bryan, ‘I’m getting my race back,’” his mother, Marissa, said. 

Registration is $40 per runner, with a discount for those under 18. Proceeds from the race will benefit the newly established Gavyn Avery Drago Foundation, which was created by his family. The foundation will aid research and the advancement of epilepsy treatment — which Gavyn suffered from — and provide support for teenagers living with it.

Gavyn’s parents said he would take his pills every morning and night, but just wanted to be a normal kid outside otherwise. The hope is to help kids going through the same thing so they don’t “suffer in silence.”

“We will definitely be dispersing the funds from the foundation to organizations that we feel are really pushing forward and are seeking a cure for this horrific neurological disease,” Ms. Drago said.

The Mattituck High School senior’s death was immediately felt across the community, leaving friends, family and schools in mourning.

The Mattituck cross country team, along with Gavyn’s close friends, ran from the high school to the Drago family’s home to present them with a signed jersey and picture after the news broke. Gavyn ran track and cross country. 

People also dropped off bouquets inside and outside of Main Road Biscuit Co. in Jamesport, which is run by Ms. Drago.

“When you have to look at it this way, and you see how many different facets of the world Gavyn touched, it’s overwhelming,” Ms. Drago said. “The stories are all the same: that he made them feel a certain way, that he touched their life in a certain way. I love it.”

He chose to run his first half marathon when he was 14. Over the next three years, he went on to complete five of them, including the United Airlines NYC Half, and dreamed of one day running the New York City Marathon. But running wasn’t just a passion for Gavyn; it was part of him.

He also finished several runs to raise money, something else he was passionate about, bringing in thousands of dollars for the Epilepsy Foundation.

Now, Gavyn’s Favorite 5K will continue that mission.

“It’s been overwhelming. It definitely provides a level of peace and comfort to us to know that Gavyn touched so many people,” Mr. Drago said. “It’s been an extremely difficult two weeks for us. Gavyn was our world. He was our only child, and we poured everything we had into him.”