Real Housewife of New Jersey confirmed as Celebrity Chair of 5K

Jan. 25, 2012 - PRLog -- The Cupid’s Chase 5K Run is the largest, national, simultaneous charity 5K Run in the country held by any nonprofit organization. With 5K’s held in 25 cities across 10 states on the same day and same time, the Cupid’s Chase offers participants great prizes and giveaways, certified USATF courses and even the opportunity to make a love connection by choosing an “Available” or “Unavailable” shirt to wear. And yes, there have been love connections made as a result of this event over the years.

In New Jersey, the Cupid’s Chase 5K takes place in Glen Rock, Princeton, New Brunswick and Stone Harbor. Kathy Wakile, reality star on the Real Housewives of New Jersey has recently been confirmed as the Celebrity Chair of the Glen Rock Cupid’s Chase 5K Run.

"I am so honored to be the Celebrity Chair of the Glen Rock Cupid’s Chase 5K Run,” says Wakile. As our viewers know, the mission of Community Options, to develop housing and employment for people with disabilities is one that is very close to our family. I am urging everyone in Northern New Jersey to come out and run with me and my husband Rich,” added Wakile.

In addition to having her husband Rich at the race, Senator Bob Gordon of New Jersey’s 38th Legislative District and his wife, Gail Gordon, National Chair of the Cupid’s Chase 5K Run along with Ryan Peene, an Associate at MBI-GluckShaw will all be in attendance at the Glen Rock run.

This year, the organization also gained support from Geraldo Rivera as the National Honorary Cupid’s Chase 5K Run Chair. It has been forty years since Rivera exposed the abuse and neglect at the Willowbrook State School and since that time, great strides have been made towards the de-institutionalization movement and Community Options is one of the pioneers of this movement.

“This grand event, the Cupid’s Chase 5K Run is a heartwarming testament to the idea that we're all in this together,” says Rivera. “What an idea! Tens of thousands of big-hearted folks from 25 cities across ten different states all running as a compassionate demonstration of their commitment to find appropriate housing and employment for all, regardless of the challenges of developmental disabilities. Bravo to all who run or support those who do,” added Rivera.

Other notable support for Community Options and the Cupid’s Chase 5K Run includes Governor Nikki Haley of South Carolina, Chuck Franco, First Gentleman of New Mexico, Discovery Channel’s Storm Chasers, Reed Timmer and Chris Chittick, Lt. Governor Nancy Wyman of Connecticut, First Lady Anita Perry, Lt. Governor Sheila Simon of Illinois, Scott Brown, United States Rowing Para Olympian, First Lady Mary Pat Christie of New Jersey, Peter Shankman, Founder of HARO and Amy and David Bybee, Professional Athletes out of Kentucky.

“We are amazed at how fast this event has spread across the country and we are proud to call this event our organization’s headline charity event,” said Robert Stack, Founder, President and CEO of Community Options. “We hope that participants realize the dramatic impact they are having on improving the lives of people with disabilities across the country by simply registering for the event,” he added.

The Cupid’s Chase 5K Run will take place on Saturday, February 11, 2012. To register for the event, you can visitwww.comop.org/cupidschase. To join the Cupid’s Chase on Facebook, you can visit www.facebook.com/cupidschase.