The Alternative Press

The 15^th annual Berkeley Heights 5K Charity Road Race and Fitness Walk generated $12,000.00 as nearly 400 runners and walkers took to the township streets on Sunday September 18^th, 2011

“Once again, we were blessed with a glorious morning so that our participants and spectators could enjoy another wonderful family event”, proclaimed Race Director, Dr. Patrick Smith of Smith Chiropractic in Berkeley Heights. “Also, new this year was D ring chip scoring which made our finish line much faster and easier for all”.

20 local non-profit organizations and will share the money raised at the event. “This year’s donations will bring our 15 year total to $105,600.00, which has been given on behalf of all those (runners, walkers, patrons, and volunteers) who make our charity event possible. We feel very positive that our event continues to be an annual, small-town road race and fitness walk that embraces family fun and friendly competition. As a result, we are able to fulfill our goal of community support through donations to local organizations and individuals in need,” said Dr. Smith. “The organizations we support directly improve the lives of our neighbors. The notion of neighbors helping neighbors is really what the Berkeley Heights 5K is all about. When I started this event 15 years ago, my dream was to create an annual small town road race, which local residents would enjoy, and together we could raise a few dollars to give back to our wonderful community. With this year’s donations, my dream has again been realized and exceeded what I thought was possible,” added Dr. Smith.

Dr. Smith was quick to point out, “Without the generous support of our Corporate and local Business patrons and the dedication of our Volunteers, our charity event would not be possible, which is another example of how great this community is, good people willing to give both time and money to help one another. For me, the real hero’s of this years event are our sponsors, both the local business community and our larger corporate friends stepped forward in a continued down economy to help make this year’s event our most successful!”

In addition to nearly 400 runners and walkers who took to the streets, nearly 150 smiling children, ages 2 to 11, dashed across Memorial Field in the free fun runs.

Athletes were pampered by local professional massage therapists Michael Jagiallo & Bruna Kruse with free pre- and post-race sports massages compliments of Smith Chiropractic, free blood pressure screenings were performed by RNs, Mary Francis and Margaret Malone, a D.J. entertained the crowd with music and dancing. Everyone enjoyed munching on fresh mini-bagels and oranges from Kings Supermarket, bottled water and sports drinks were enjoyed by all, as were healthy fruit & vegetable  smoothies provided by Mad Nutrition and the protein sport shakes provided by Xymogen Nutrition. Post-Race drawings were plentiful as; Hampshire Self Storage in Berkeley Heights gave away a flat panel TV, the John Hawk Agency, an Allstate insurance and financial services firm in Chatham donated an IPOD mini, 2 IPOD mini’s were donated by Smith Chiropractic. Weichert Realtors Watchung gave several substantial prizes with lots of other sponsors at tables providing many more free offers. Runner and Walkers moved under a spectacular Red White & Blue balloon arch donated by Taylor Rental in Berkeley Heights, and all participants received a goodie bag filled with a custom race tee and lots of free stuff from our sponsors.

New this year was the Berkeley Heights 5K/Red Cross Community Blood drive which took place during and after the race, across Park Avenue from Memorial Field @ the Berkeley Heights Community Center, with over 30 individuals presenting to donate life saving blood. As a thanks to all participants in this vital community event, the Berkeley Heights 5K held a special drawing for a large HD flat panal TV which was won by Eric Deuchar from Berkeley Heights, who also ran the race. The BH5K/Red Cross community blood drive will again take place@ the 16^th Berkeley Heights 5K charity road Race & Fitness Walk Sunday September 16^th 2012 with another HDTV drawing.  

Also, representatives from the Wounded Warrior Project were on site to give out information about the organizations important work. The Wounded Warrior Project is a growing grass roots program which assists servicemen and women who have been severely injured during the conflicts in Iraq, Afghanistan, and elsewhere around the world. If you would like more information about this organization or would like to help, go to: www.woundedwarriorproject.org.   

This year’s top three male and female finishers received custom Lucite race plagues. Receiving the top hardware was repeat men’s champion Rufino Mendez from Elizabeth, with a time of 17:02, Beau Atwater from Bernardsville finished second, with a time of 18:03, and Jean-Christo Perrin from Chatham took third place, with a time of 18:30.

On the women’s side, Champion Jean Albright from Basking Ridge, in a time of 19:09, Kathleen Rocker from Metuchen finished second with a time of 20:33, and Tara Zimliki from Branchburg grabbed third place, with a time of 21.23.

Additionally, 70 age group custom Lucite trophies were handed out to male and female winners in age groups ranging from 14 and under to 80 and over.

Dr. Smith reflected, “Each year it is very uplifting to see the triumph of human spirit displayed at the Berkeley Heights 5K. Rebecca White age 8 from Westfield finished in an amazing time of 27:00, Isabel Grussgott from Springfield age 7 was the youngest finisher, and  Diane Stone from Bernardsville age 80 was the oldest to finish the main event.”  Dr. Smith went on, “I never know what kind of good things are going to happen each year, I just know they will. I am honored that our event touches so many people’s lives in positive ways.”      

Dr. Smith added, “This year’s support was again overwhelming to me. Without the following local business and corporate leaders, during a tough time, our charity event and all the good it does, would not be possible.”

Platinum Patron

Investors Bank

Gold Patrons

Allstate The John Hawk Agency

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

Avaya Communications

Bassett Associates Summit

DERCO copying, printing, & supplies

Hampshire Self Storage Berkeley Heights

Independent Press

Kings Supermarkets

Samuel G. Smith Jr. Memorial Fund

Smith Chiropractic

Smooth-On

Sneaker Factory running centers

Summit Medical Group

Suburban Chamber of Commerce

1-800-GOT- JUNK?

Overlook Hospital/Atlantic Health

Taylor Rental

TheAlternativePress.Com

Weichert Realtors Watchung offices

Silver Patrons

Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine- Xi Ren Zhou, OMD

Avelient Technology

Basking Ridge Country Club

betterway lawncare

Bleakly, Dwyer, Schwartz, Cooney & Finney

Cartridge World, New Providence

CET Heating & Air Conditioning, Inc.

Computer Fixers New Providence

Family Foot Care – Gary L. Quartello, DPM

Davies & Associates Insurance Management

GABRIELE Fitness & Performance

Gary S. Crystal, DMD, Berkeley Heights

Glassworks of Summit

Hilltop Community Bank

John P. Sullivan CPA CFP

Law Office of David C. Bendush

MAD NUTRITION

MARY’S Your Name Here

NP FUEL

Philip E. Memoli DMD—The Center for Natural Dentistry

Puro Clean Restoration Services

The Handyman 4-U

The Sign Center

The Tee Bag Screen-printing & Custom Embroidery

Xymogen  

Special thanks to all the dedicated Volunteers, the staff of Smith Chiropractic, the Berkeley Heights Police Department, the Berkeley Heights Recreation Department and Director Tom Barton, Gil Vanbuskirk manager of the Berkeley Heights Kings, the Berkeley Heights Rescue Squad, the Suburban Chamber of Commerce, the Berkeley Heights Department of Public Works, Sharon Brady for web design and IT support, Sue Cunningham for logo design, and Kevin Dunwell Photography for all event photos.

Complete race results including Free professional digital photos which can be downloaded, are available at www.BerkeleyHeights5K.com. Please log on to learn more about the Berkeley Heights 5K Charity Road Race & Fitness Walk.

Editors Note: Registration for 2012 Berkeley Heights 5K Sunday September 16^th is now open, for information please go to www.berkeleyheights5k.com.  Race Director, Dr. Patrick R. Smith can be reached at either his practice, Smith Chiropractic 134 Snyder Avenue Berkeley Heights, by calling 908-464-8899, or online @

www.drpatricksmith.com.

Many Benefit from the 2011 BH5K

Benefiting from the proceeds of the 15th Annual Berkeley Heights 5K Charity Road Race and Fitness Walk will be the following local community-based, non-profit organizations:

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 Ciullo 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