Community Corner
5K Race Nets Thousands for Local Charities
The 8th annual Party With Purpose 5k race was on Tuesday.
More than 1500 runners braved the heat to run the eighth annual Party With Purpose charity 5k race Tuesday. Thanks to the runners the non-profit raised several thousand dollars that it has promised to donate to various local charities.
Hoboken native Charlie Bates, 19, won the race with a time of 16:15. Brian Cavanaugh, 27, of Westchester, NY finished a close second at 16:32. Maria Pavkovitch, 28, of Hoboken was the fastest female at 18:32.
“I'm trying to get in better shape to be competitive on my team,” , a freshman who runs track at Villanova University said.
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The runners ran a route that took them from the starting line near the Melting Pot restaurant downtown up along Sinatra Drive and back, with a finish line on Pier A Park.
Party With Purpose founder Scott Delea encouraged the runners as they waited at the starting line.
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“With everyone running we're making a better life for kids,” Delea said. “Thank you for helping us make a difference.”
Party With Purpose will donate proceeds from the race to local charities, including the , the and TRUE Mentors. Before the race several dozen children from all three groups played games in the park and ran in a special kids run.
The adult runners received gift bags with prizes from sponsors, including running supply store Fleet Feet. Other sponsors included the Hoboken Harriers running club, the Hoboken Family Alliance, ZOG Sports, Ben & Jerry's, Empire Realty, and the Wicked Wolf tavern.
The Z100 radio station, another sponsor, treated a handful of runners to special prizes, including tickets to see Kiss and Motley Crue in concert, the Broadway shows Rent and Mama Mia, and also the American Idol live tour. Greg T, Loren Raye and Skeery Jones from Z100's Elvis Duran and the Morning Show served as special guest emcees for the race.
“Let's do this, kick butt and go drink beer,” Greg told the runners before the race.
After the race the adults gathered at the east end of Pier A for a special party that included a beer truck and music from the Dancing Goats Band.
The newspaper USA Today recently named the Party With Purpose race as one its top six most satisfying summer charity races nationwide.
