Charities Across The State And Beyond Benefit From The New Jersey Marathon

April 13, 2012 - PRLog -- Running 26.2 miles is for most a daunting, challenging task.  For many, completing a marathon is a “bucket list” item.  Or at least a distinct personal measure of accomplishment.

But for others, diseases and conditions like cancer, autism, cerebral palsy, paralysis, muscular dystrophy and diabetes, to name a few, can make every day seem as challenging as running a marathon.  For charitable and non-profit organizations in the Garden State and beyond, these worlds come together at The New Jersey Marathon at the Shore on May 6.

Dozens of these groups have a long history of partnering with The New Jersey Marathon for fundraising opportunities, awareness and even inspiration as they continue to fight for these important causes.  From not-for-profits as large and wide-ranging as The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and American Cancer Society to more local ones like Central Jersey Brain Tumor Support Group and Kick Cancer Overboard, the The New Jersey Marathon's association with them greatly enhances the event's participants, supporters and fans.

“The work done by these charities every day is inspirational, and fits in perfectly with the mission of The New Jersey Marathon,” said Joe Gigas, race director.  “We are pleased that so many groups have partnered with us, and we are honored to play a part in helping these selfless individuals continue what they do in assisting those in need.”

Although the fundraising aspect of The New Jersey Marathon is critical, many groups find ways to connect even more closely with the event.  Central N.J. Brain Tumor Support Group, for example, will have four brain tumor survivors on the course after placing two last year.  Often people run on behalf of friends and loved ones, like Team LADACIN's captain Joseph Walker, whose brother Colin has both cognitive and physical disabilities.  Every one of the runners with National Hospice are participating in memory of a loved one who, sadly, were stricken with conditions for which there was no cure.

“At the end of the day, if we can help one child, one family at a time, we are doing our job,” summed up Claudette Bardwil, president of Autism Family Times with Brianna, Inc., “and The New Jersey Marathon has been a key contributor in the work we do.”

Some of the charities who are “going the extra mile” to maximize the value of their New Jersey Marathon experience include:

• THANC Foundation (www.thancfoundation.org) -  A gentleman is running his first marathon in honor of his brother in law who has been battling one of the cancers THANC supports.
• Wellness Within (http://wellnesswithin.org) – Patti Brown, from across the country, volunteers in support of her 40-plus year friendship with life-long NJ resident Beth O'Reilly.
• Central NJ Brain Tumor Support Group (www.njbt.org/startCNJBTSG.cfm) – Funds raised from the 2011 team supported a National Brain Tumor Conference, “2011 Diagnosis Brain Tumor: You Are NOT Alone IV,” in October in Edison.
• Autism Family Times (www.autismfamilytimes.org) – One of the team members ran the 2010 N.J. Marathon with a PICC line (a type of catheter) as she was battling Lymphoma, serving as an inspiration to all.
• Team LADACIN (www.ladacin.org) - Funds raised through the N.J. Marathon have supported vital therapy and rehabilitation, assistive technology, transportation, and child care services, shaping and changing lives.
• Push To Walk (www.pushtowalknj.org) – Five clients will be racing in handcycles, hugely important because PTW's efforts as a team benefit those individuals and others with paralysis.
• Team JDRF (www.jdrf.org) – The Team JDRF Challenge program not only helps participants meet and exceed endurance training and their fundraising goals, but in turn helps JDRF improve the lives of all people affected by Type 1 diabetes.
• Cure CMD (www.curecmd.org) - One of its greatest achievements was facilitating the inclusion of a young determined man with CMD (congenital muscular dystrophy), Alex Van Hook, as the first power chair roller in the Long Branch 1/2 Marathon for 2 years in a row. Now in his first year at RIT, Alex will be replaced by Jennifer McNair to lead the Cure CMD charge in May.
• Kick Cancer Overboard (http://kickcanceroverboard.com) – One of the models at their annual fashion show, whose four-year-old nephew has Leukemia, gathered 100 volunteers for last year's N.J. Marathon, raising enough money to send him and his family on a cruise for cancer victims.
• National Hospice (www.runtoremember.org) – One runner, Scott Richard Herman from Manchester, Conn., is running in memory of Cele "Bubbie" Herman and Hal Rosenberg. Half of the money Scott raises will go to the National Hospice Foundation, which will send the other half to a hospice selected by Scott in Conn.

A full list of New Jersey Marathon beneficiaries and non-profit partners can be found at http://www.njmarathon.org/community_beneficiaries/benefic... and http://www.njmarathon.org/participant_info/fundraising.aspx.

Events for The New Jersey Marathon take place May 4-6.  The centerpiece of the weekend is the full marathon on Sunday, May 6, beginning at Monmouth Park in Oceanport and meanders through eight beautiful New Jersey shore towns, including Monmouth Beach, Deal, Allenhurst, Lock Arbour, Asbury Park and Ocean Grove before reaching the finish line on the Long Branch Promenade (north of Pier Village).  The marathon will start at 8 a.m., and the first corral of the Half Marathon and Half Marathon Relay is scheduled to start at 6:50 a.m.

Registration for all events, course views, information about volunteering and sponsorship and details of the entire weekend of activities and more are available at the race Website at www.NJMarathon.org.

In addition, The New Jersey Marathon, in partnership with Move For Hunger, will be conducting a food drive during the Expo. There will be collection bins, and staff, available to collect your generous donations, and distribute them to the local food banks.  Move For Hunger is a non-profit organization that works with moving companies across the country to support the efforts of local food banks. Your donation will likely directly impact families right in your home town.

The New Jersey Marathon is administered by US Road Sports & Entertainment Group, which conducts road races nationwide, including the 13.1 Marathon® Series.

Major sponsors of the New Jersey Marathon include Barnabus Health, Investors Bank and United Healthcare.

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US Road Sports & Entertainment Group is a health and wellness company dedicated to the production of world-class endurance events.