The Alternative Press

The 16^th Annual Berkeley Heights 5K Charity Road Race and Fitness Walk will draw runners, walkers, children, and spectators to Memorial Field on Sunday morning, September 16th. 

Race Director, Dr. Patrick R Smith of Smith Chiropractic commented, “We have lots of exciting plans for this year’s event. Added awards for younger runners with the addition of a 10 and under category, continued Blood Drive with special iPad Drawing, and convenient Chip scoring  We have several special fund raising efforts, one being to help fund a group of locals who plan a 30 day wilderness hike of the 48 peaks over 4000 feet in the White Mountains of New Hampshire to raise awareness of ALS and on behalf of the nonprofit organization HARK, we are also raising money to help one of our own,a local businessman and founding member of the Neighborhood Networking Group, who has developed an early onset form of Parkinson’s and is unable to work. We also hope for continued great participation, as 100% of participant application fees go directly towards our annual charitable donation”. Smith went on,” The generosity of our local business & corporate sponsors cover our event production costs, so we depend on our runners and walkers in this wonderful family event, to generate much needed funds for the many local organizations who need our support (last year’s recipients are listed below). In addition, many of our sponsors will be holding free drawing, The John Hawk Agency, an Allstate Insurance and Financial Services firm in Chatham, will sponsor a drawing for an iPod, Smith Chiropractic Family Care & Sports Injury Center will sponsor a drawing for an iPod and will host a free sports massage tent with a special drawing for a foursome with cart from the Basking Ridge Country Club, Weichert Realtors Watchung will offer games and offer many give aways for children and adults, E Medical Office will have a special exhibit, just to mention a few, plus the Wounded Warrior Project will have a booth loaded with great merchandise, there will be a free smoothie booth, and an expanded local sponsor booth area will provide participants and spectators alike the opportunity to learn and enjoy many new things and win great prizes”, Dr. Smith added “I think everyone will really enjoy what we have planned for this year, It’s going to be the place to have fun and learn September 16^th”, and all participants will receive a “special eco tote goodie bag stuffed with lots of great stuff!. There will also be a few surprise giveaways that you’ll have to be there to participate in.” Dr. Smith went on saying, “We will continue 2 important features this year which were new last year; first we will have D-ring chip timing to enhance scoring and make the finish easier, and second we will host the 2nd annual BH5K/Red Cross Community Blood Drive this year at the Berkeley Heights Community Center on Park Avenue (across the street from Memorial Field) from 10am to 3pm, as the need for life saving blood is greater than ever and each pint collected results is a direct financial donation to the Red Cross. Each pint of blood donated can save 3 lives, plus everyone who donates a pint of lifesaving blood will be entered into a special drawing for a brand new iPAD, yes iPad not iPod. To donate please call Race Headquarters @ 908 464 8899. Also, we have improved our web site, with simple on-line registration for the 5K, 1.5 mile Fitness Walk and Blood Donation @ www.berkeleyheights5k.com and this year’s custom race t-shirt is sure to be a crowd favorite.” Dr. Smith recommends signing up by September 8^th to guarantee getting one of the custom race shirts and the special reusable goodie bag plus save $. “We pride ourselves on providing a great shirt each year and I know I say this each year, but I really think this one is the best yet, it’s fun. We have lots of ways to participate, why not Run or Walk and give Blood?”

Runners will race through tree-lined neighborhoods in the Berkeley Heights 5K, which is sanctioned by the USA Track and Field Association and is a 500-point race in the New Balance Grand Prix Series. Non-runners and families can participate by entering the 1.5 mile fitness walk which winds through sections of the tree-lined residential 5K course. Not to be forgotten, children ages 2 to 11 are invited to dash across Memorial field in the free fun runs. (No registration for fun runs, just show up!)

To register for the 2012 Berkeley Heights 5K Road Race or Fitness Walk, simply complete and mail in the registration form included or log on to www.BerkeleyHeights5K.com and click on the register box, a paper application is also printable

The early registration fee (by September 6^th) is $23.00 ($20.00 for USATF-NJ members) guarantees a custom race shirt and goodie bag. After September 6th, the registration fee will increase to $25.00 for everyone with no guarantee of a custom race shirt or goodie bag. Early registration packet pick-up takes place on September 11th, 13th, and 15th at Smith Chiropractic, 134 Snyder Ave in Berkeley Heights. Registration for the 5K road race, the 1.5 mile fitness walk and the Red Cross Blood Drive,  may also be done in person at Smith Chiropractic 134 Snyder Avenue Berkeley Heights, anytime between now and September 15th.

The schedule of events starts on Memorial Field at 7:45 am on Sunday, September 16th with late registration and distribution of race packets, including number with d-ring chip for electronic timing, custom race shirt, and goodie bag (if raining, go to Berkeley Heights Community Center on Park Avenue). The 5K road race takes off at 9:30 am, followed by the 1.5 mile fitness walk at 9:35 am. Free fun runs for children ages 2 through 11 begin at 10:15 am on Memorial Field, all participating children will receive a race ribbon (no registration is necessary), the awards ceremony begins immediately after the free children’s Fun Runs, with 90 custom plaques and trophies being presented to the top 3 male and female finishers of the 5K and in various male and female age groups ranging from 10 and under to 80 and over. (Lots of custom hardware come and get it!)

According to Dr. Smith, “we’re expecting to host another great group of runners, walkers, and children with all those smiling faces dashing across Memorial Field, making our event one to the best small town races in the state and helping us to fulfill our goals of family fun, friendly competition, fitness and a sense of community. My hope is that this event will always be connected with a sense of people uniting in a patriotic and caring way.”

Proceeds from last year’s event, which totaled $12.000, were divided among the following local organizations that provide much needed services to residents in the community:

1. Berkeley Heights Education Foundation – provides school enrichment programs
2. SAGE Spend-A-Day – adult daycare and Alzheimer’s care
3. Berkeley Heights Police Athletic League – youth sports program
4. Summit-Area Baby Center – provides support for local infants in need
5. Summit Speech School, New Providence – helps hearing impaired preschoolers
6. Our House Inc. Berkeley Heights Group Home – assists developmentally-disabled adults
7. Berkeley Heights Rescue Squad & Berkeley Heights Fire Department
8. Berkeley Heights Recreation Commission
9. Family Promise of Summit—helps families in need thru interfaith hospitality networks
10. Santa Claus Shop, Summit – Keeps the spirit of giving alive for over 600 local families in need
11. Berkeley Heights Public Library Foundation—providing much needed library resources
12. The Wounded Warrior Project—Grassroots organization providing comfort to injured servicemen and women returning home from the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan, www.woundedwarriorproject.org
13. VFW post 6259 Berkeley Heights—provides resources for local vets & aids those @ Lyons Hospital
14. The Summit Area Red Cross—provides resources during local crisis
15. Homefirst interfaith Housing & Family services—www.homefirstinc.org
16. Suburban Chamber of Commerce Foundation—Joe Cuillo scholarship @ GL High School
17. Governor Livingston High School Athletic Department—“Impact Concussion Testing program”
18. BH, Summit & NP League of Women Voters—local voter education
19. BHTV Comcast 34/Fios47 “This Week in Berkeley Heights”, a weekly news & information show   

Dr. Smith reflected “over the past 15 years with the generous support of local businesses and corporate sponsors/leaders as well as the great participation at our events, we have raised a total of $105,600. I am proud to say that everyone’s efforts have achieved such wonderful results and done so much good within our community.”

As in the previous year, Compuscore will provide accurate D-ring chip timing of the 5K with results posted after the race and on the web at www.Berkeley Heights5K.com. Also, a free professional online race photo service will be on hand, to capture images of all those who participate. Last year’s photos are still available @ www.berkeleyheights5k.com for free.

A local DJ will provide musical entertainment. A patriotic custom balloon arch donated by Taylor Rental in Berkeley Heights will welcome all participants. Complimentary sports massages will be available for all walkers and runners before and after the competition, courtesy of Smith Chiropractic, free blood pressure screenings will be available to anyone interested. Complimentary refreshments will be provided to all, including bottled water, sports drinks, bagels, organic oranges, watermelon, sports nutrition protein drinks, custom made smoothies and more.

Dr. Smith added, “Without the tremendous support we receive from local business and corporate leaders, our charity event and all the good it does would not be possible, PLEASE support our sponsors with your business!” This year’s patrons are as follows:

      Platinum Patrons:

      Law Office of David C. Bendush

      www.BerkeleyHeightsLawyer.com

      Gold Patrons:

Allstate: The John Hawk Agency, Chatham

Applebee’s “It’s a whole new neighborhood”

Bassett Associates Summit

Berkeley Aquatic Club

DERCO copying, printing, and office supplies

E Medical Offices

Equinox Fitness Clubs

1-800-GOT-JUNK?

Investors Bank

Neighborhood Networking Group

Samuel G. Smith Jr. Memorial Fund

SMITH CHIROPRACTIC Family Care & Sports Injury Center

SMOOTH-ON

Sneaker Factory running centers

Suburban Chamber of Commerce

Overlook Medical Center/Atlantic Health System

Taylor Rental

TheAlternativePress.com

      Weichert Realtors, Watchung office

Silver Patrons:

Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine- Dr. Zhou, OMD

AVAYA

Avelient Technology

Basking Ridge Country Club

betterway  lawncare

      Bleakley, Schwartz, Cooney, & Finney

      Cartridge World, New Providence

CET Heating and Air Conditioning Inc.

Davies and Associates insurance management

      Family Foot Care- Gary L. Quartello, DPM

      GABRIELE Fitness & Performance

      Gary S. Crystal, DMD, Berkeley Heights

Glassworks of Summit

Goodman’s Restaurant & Deli

Hilltop Community Bank

Independent Press

John P. Sullivan, CFP, CPA

MAD NUTRITION

MARY’S Your Name Here

Paras & Paras, Summit

      Philip E. Memoli, DMD, the Center for Natural Dentistry

      Puro Clean Restoration Services

      Robinwood Kitchens

      Summit Medical Group

      TEE BAG Embroidery & Screen Printing

      Walgreens

Lastly, Dr. Smith said, “each year we rely on the dedication of our volunteers. Without their service, we could not have a Berkeley Heights 5K, volunteering and giving a little time back to our community is one of the ways anyone can help make a difference…it’s especially great when high school age kids help out and make such a positive impact on their community…it looks good on the college application too.” Anyone interested in volunteering for this community event or for further information, call race director Dr. Patrick Smith at the race hotline (908)464-8899, or on the web at www.berkeleyheights5k.com.  All proceeds from this charity event will again be donated within our community on behalf of everyone involved. So strap on your running shoes and join the fun! Run, Walk, Donate Blood or Volunteer!

Click here for a flier with more details and list of sponsors.