"At the YWCA Bergen County, we believe swim lessons save lives and that every child in our community should be equipped with the skills to help them safely enjoy the water," said Helen Archontou, CEO of YWCA Bergen County. "We hope this year's ‘Swim Skills = Skills for Life 5K Run/Walk' will draw a record number of participants. The event is a great opportunity to make a difference in the lives of local children, while also enjoying one of the most spectacular locations in all of Bergen County." The rain date is Sunday, Oct. 14.
United Water will open up its private trails surrounding the Oradell Reservoir as the setting for this year's event. Sure to challenge novice and seasoned runners and walkers alike, the course features miles of serene trails that wind through 90 acres of land, offering participants many natural points of interest along the way.
Race day registration begins at 8:30 a.m., followed by a pre-race warm-up at 9 a.m. and the start of the race at 9:30 a.m. The family-friendly event will feature a kid's walk/run for younger participants, along with food, prizes, goody bags and music provided by radio station WPLJ. Pre-registration, available through Oct. 11, is $20 for adults ages 21 and older, $15 for students ages 12 and up, and $5 for children under age 11. Race day registration is $25 for adults, $20 for students and $10 for children. To pre-register for the race event, visit www.5krunwalk.eventbrite.com.
The YWCA Bergen County also is seeking corporations and individuals to serve as event sponsors. Several sponsorship levels are available, each of which carries a number of unique benefits including your company's logo displayed on promotional materials. More importantly, supporting this community-wide event will allow the YWCA Bergen County to continue delivering programs designed to reduce drowning and provide swimming lessons to children who otherwise may never gain this life-saving skill. For sponsorship information, contact Jill Donitz at (201) 881-1721 or jdonitz@ywcabergencounty.org.
YWCA Bergen County is a local partner of "Make a Splash," a national child-focused water safety initiative created by the USA Swimming Foundation with the goal that all children learn to swim. To date, more than 1.2 million kids have received the life-saving gift of swim lessons through its Local Partner network, comprised of more than 500 qualified lesson providers across the nation.
