Nearly 6,000 people, many with personal stories of triumph, took part in the 35th Annual Long Island Marathon Sunday.

The sound of a horn kicked off the run at Eisenhower Park. Participants made their way through Uniondale and Old Westbury ? some running the 10K, the half marathon or all 26.2 miles.

Felipe Vergara, of Hempstead, won the men's race. He completed the run in 2 hours 35 minutes. Sachem art teacher Jessica Allen was the first woman to cross the finish line in a little under 3 hours.

"In the beginning it's a lot easier ? but after that, you're on Wantagh Parkway going into the wind, so it's tough," Allen said.

For some runners, finishing the race was about raising money for a good cause. "We're doing this for other families who need the help. We're trying to give back," an emotional Evelyn Anderson said. A charity called Friends of Karen helped her family when her son was diagnosed with leukemia.

A group of runners called Team Courage raised more than $20,000 to help build game rooms in Long Island children's hospitals.

Click here to see photos from the Long Island Marathon

Send your Long Island Marathon 2007 photos to LIMarathon@news12.com. All submitted photos will be posted on News12.com.For Chopper 12 footage of the start of the race and footage of runners crossing the finish line, go to channel 612 on your digital iO cable box and select iO Extra.

Marathon Results Award Results Full Runner Results Full Race Walker Results Full Wheelchair Results

Half Marathon Results Award Results Full Runner Results Full Race Walkers Results

10K Results Award Groups Full Runner Results Full Race Walkers Results