Resident Runs in Honor of Late Mahwah Grad

Each year, the family and friends of late Mahwah resident Dan Zolotorofe remember him in a charity basketball game.

A few weeks ago, one of his childhood friends decided to honor Zolotorofe, who died after a battle with Type I Diabetes in 2011, in a different way. 

Mahwah resident Jessica Ohnikian ran the Asbury Park Half Marathon in memory of her friend. She raised over $3500 to benefit the DZ Foundation, the charity Dan's friends and family set up in his honor. All donations go to diabetes research and a scholarship in Dan's name at Mahwah High School.

Zolotorofe's family members said they were touched by her commitment to the Foundation and to Dan's memory.

"[Ohnikian] said she was done mourning and wanted to do something positive, and so she began training for the half marathon," Dan's sister, Jessica, told Patch.

"We are all very impressed with her dedication, and proud of her for turning her grief into a beautiful memory for all of us."