Heroine who died saving son's life remembered with 5K run

By Laurie Gordon
NEWTON — On Sunday, April 14, some ran, some walked, some pushed strollers and some had four-legged friends along, but all had traveled to Swartswood State Park for one reason: to remember a very special mother.

On March 28, 2004, Debbie Ann Modrow Snook dove into Culver Lake and saved the life of her then-five-year-old son, who was drowning.

The last of the winter's ice had just left the lake a week before, and though Modrow Snook had been trained as a lifeguard growing up, nothing could have prepared her body for the shock of the cold water.

She gave her life so that her son could live: the ultimate sacrifice.

Three years ago, in memory of Modrow Snook, the family started a group called Thank You Mom as a Facebook Group.

Modrow Snook was very charity-oriented, volunteering with such organizations as the Sussex County Chapter of The Red Cross.

She also delivered coats to the homeless in New York City and trained for a 600-mile bike ride for AIDS awareness.

Thank You Mom evolved into the Thank You Mom Foundation, an incorporated 501(c)(3) charity, in 2011, and that same year, the foundation sponsored a 5K at Riverside Park in New York.

Last year, the 5K moved locally to Swartswood State Park, and this year benefits the local Red Cross as well as local families in need. The race and foundation aim to both memorialize Modrow Snook and to continue her good work.

On Sunday, the clouds seemed to part for the start of the race as Modrow Snook's brother, Ken Modrow, welcomed the crowd before turning the microphone over to his mother.

"Debbie would have been happy," Kathleen Modrow said looking over the large crowd of participants.

Modrow Snook's sister, Tracey Modrow Coombs is also in integral part of the foundation. The annual race is about bringing families together to support each other, helping others and remembering Debbie Ann Modrow Snook.

Sixteen-year-old Hunter Jackman, of Stillwater, was the race winner turning in a time of 17:17 over the multi-terrained three-point-one mile course. At the finish line, grills blazed operated by a multitude of volunteers who prepared burgers and hot dogs for the finishers.