CALLICOON — It is no secret just how impactful the DYC River Race has been to the community of Callicoon over the past 25, soon to be 26, years. 

From its inception back in 1998, the race along the Delaware has brought an increased number of runners each year, and each of those participants has been given a t-shirt as part of the race packet over the years.

The immense community support for the race, specifically runners Betsy Murphy and Kathi Zieres, led to the creation of a beautiful quilt to commemorate the race as it reached the quarter century mark last year.

“I typically don’t wear T-shirts, but I always made sure to pick one up,” explained Betsy Murphy. “My husband and I have run the race every year since the beginning.”

As the pile of shirts in the closet grew, so too did the idea of repurposing them into something new and beautiful.

After recruiting Kathi to the cause, the quilt came to life. It wasn’t complete until just before the race last year, as they needed the 25th and final shirt for the final row.

“Each shirt is a work of art, and putting them together for this quilt has been a special project,” Zieres said.

The quilt was raffled off during the race last year, but the Delaware Youth Center bought it back from the raffle winner due to its sentimental value.

“I like the idea that it’s still here,” Murphy said. “Kathi’s talent brought this beautiful quilt to life.”

The creativity, thought and time that went into the creation of the quilt is a perfect symbol of the hard work that the race committee puts in year after year to ensure a great event.

Murphy added, “It means a lot to me that the [Delaware] Youth Center is here and provides for the community and children.”