A team of 63 runners, walkers and on the course supporters participated in the annual 10-mile Blessing of the Fleet race in Narragansett on July 29 to honor Cranston coach and teacher Paul Bucci who passed away earlier this year.

Dina Cesana, Lisa Ventutuli and Rob LaBanca organized the team.

Cesana said Bucci ran the race 28 times and this year saw participating in the event as a way to carry on his running legacy with a Bucci team. The group created shirts which read “this blessing is for you Coach Bucci” and said others made #teambucci shirts for St. Mary’s Festival race that was held July 16.

Cesana said Bucci was an inspiration to all he taught and coached. The t-shirts were bought for cost price thanks to Ron Boemker so yield a $400 profit. The group is also looking at erecting memorial plaques honoring Bucci. The plaques will be placed at his coaching sites: one being Meshanticut Lake for the Cranston West Cross Country Team and the other at Cranston East where he taught history and coached Indoor and Outdoor Track

Cesana said she’s run the Blessing of the Fleet race almost as many times as Bucci and the weather could be tricky.

“Paul touched down on us with perfect weather and all who set out to finish the race did, so yes it was a good race,” said Cesana. (Submitted photo)