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NEW PROVIDENCE, NJ - At the start of the day on Sunday, June 12th, the NJ Sharing Network had almost reached its goal of $400K for its first ever annual Share NJ 5K. On Sunday morning, there was only $8K left to raise. But hope was the feeling in the air at the Walk/Run, and by the end of the day, Chairperson Donna Albanese informed the crowd that not only had they reached their goal, they had surpassed it and established a new one. A total of $428K - $36K raised on Sunday - was raised “to walk and run in honor of those who gave, on behalf of those who have received and with hope for those who continue to wait.”
Ms. Albanese told everyone, “You dug deep. You inspired your friends, . . . and the money is still coming in.” The Sharing Network extended the contribution time to June 20thand encouraged everyone to spread the word to continue the fundraising efforts, to reach the new goal of $500K. You can donate online at the event homepage:http://sharenj.donorpages.com/5KWalkRun2011/
After all of the money has been collected and contributions counted, prizes will be announced online and awarded for the top fundraisers -- team, college, and high school. Anyone who raises $5K will receive an iPad, and the top fundraiser will win two airline tickets.
Sunday’s event was, as Ms. Albanese described, a “magnificent first annual 5K Walk/Run.” With over 4,000 participants, and so many people - participants in the race, volunteers, young children, business representatives, donor families, donor recipients - gathered with the objective of creating hope and sending the message to others that it is important to “Donate Life,” the energy throughout the morning was positive and fun, but also and more importantly, empathetic and compassionate.
Teams wore specially designed t-shirts with messages to promote organ donation and to commemorate their loved ones. The shirts ranged from bright neon colors to tie-dyed designs -- the parking lot became a collage of colors and symbols of love.
Music added to the mood. A DJ played songs throughout the event, keeping the day upbeat. The songs, like the Electric Slide, and all of the activities, as well as the fact that people were sharing important parts of themselves, made it feel like a party amongst good friends and family.
People mingled and moved around the parking lot where tents were set up from various businesses representing the Borough of New Providence and beyond. Many of the tents had a focus on wellness. There were representatives from hospitals, such as the Overlook Medical Center, where free blood pressure screenings were done. Pfizer Inc. had a table, as a presenting sponsor. Body Essential Wellness gave free massages.
There was also a snack stand serving mostly nutritional snacks such as fruit, water and Nutri-Grain bars. The food was a contribution from a number of local businesses, including delis, supermarkets, bakeries, Old Glory Restaurant, and T&L Caterers, among others. Dairy Queen also had a tent. Prestige Diner contributed a significant amount of the food for participants.
A Kids Corner sat toward the back of the parking lot, where kids gathered for face painting, sand art, crafts and bouncy rides. There was also a cotton candy machine that several seemed to enjoy even after the sticks ran out. So much so, that children were walking around eating handfuls of cotton candy, and the teenage volunteers working the machine were covered literally, head to toe, in pink sugar.
The most magnificent tent in the lot was the Donor Family and Recipient Tent. The tent served as a memorial for so many family members. Outside of the tent was a table where participants could write messages to their loved ones or share the names of the people they were honoring. The poster board was almost completely covered in hearts and messages of affection.
Next to the table were pillars with stories posted about donors and donor recipients, stories about why people had chosen to participate, and how family members’ donations had saved lives. Even the Sharing Network had a story to share and a team to represent Beverly Hunt who “recently lost her battle with cancer.” Team Bev was there to represent the NJ Sharing Network and promote organ donation, but also to remember their friend and colleague.
The stories were beautiful and moving. People gathered with their teammates to read about their own family members and others’ stories. Many could not fight back the tears and throughout the morning people could be seen comforting one another outside of the tent.
Inside the tent there was a table with pins, some saying “Donor Recipient” and others “Donor Family.” There were also NJ Sharing Network “Donate Life” bracelets and pins. The pins were attached to a card that said, “To the world you may be one person, but to one person you may be the world.”
On the tent walls ten of the 25 NJ Sharing Network Quilts of Love were displayed. The Donor Remembrance Quilts have become part of the NJ Sharing Network Family Support Program, which includes bereavement services as well as an annual memorial program. Ms. Mary Ellen McGlynn, Manager of the Family Support Program, coordinates the quilt program. Each year for the memorial program, families design a quilt square in memory of the donor from their family. The squares are then quilted together by a professional quilter who volunteers to do this.
The quilts are used as memorials and for promotional reasons, and families can borrow them for memorial services and events. In addition to being beautiful and being another way for families to tell their stories, ease their pain and bring hope to others by sharing how their family members have saved others, according to Ms. McGlynn, “it puts a face to what we’re doing.” It helps to remind everyone that organ donors are real people.
The Walk/Run began and ended in the NJ Sharing Network Head Quarters on Central Avenue. A balloon arch marked the finish line, and participants were cheered on as they returned.
The biggest team, Team Kevin Gilbert, more than a hundred people strong, got a large cheer as members came through the arch. The team marked the three month anniversary of Kevin’s death on Sunday morning. They celebrated his life as well as the five lives that his donations saved in a big way. In addition, to participating in the race, the team raised over $15K.
Another large team, Team Romeo Delta Force, got a big cheer as it came through the finish line. This team also had an anniversary to commemorate on Sunday, the one year anniversary of young Romeo VanBuskirk’s death. His parents and family took comfort in the fact that the Walk/Run fell on this day, because it was a welcome opportunity to celebrate him and those who have benefited from him.
So many others had amazing stories to share. There were so many stories that they could not all fit into one article. Over 4,000 people came together on Sunday, and there were probably as many stories to tell about love and loss and also hope. But even though people were moved by sadness at times, the event maintained a spirit of celebration.
Winners of the race were announced based on gender and age group. In the over 75 group, Ted Sullivan came in first with a time of 33:01. Unfortunately, Melissa Honohan, NJ Sharing Network Director of External Relations and Business Development, Staying Alive Team member, and presenter announced, “Ted’s so fast he already left.” For the 65-69 year old women, Ms. Lucinda Monica of Freehold, NJ came in at 31 minutes.
Deb Townsend from Pennsylvania in the 50-54 age group, completed the race in just over 22 minutes for a total time of 22:29. Ms. Honohan herself finished first in her age group, 40-44, for a time of 21:13. Allen Gomez, of Clifton, NJ, for men between the ages of 25 and 29, came in at 18:29. Both male and female winners in the under 14 age group hailed from New Providence and came in under 18 minutes.
Donna Albanese and Elisse Glennon, who Ms. Albanese introduced as, “the best executive director in the world,” closed the day after the winners were announced by thanking everyone for their participation and for their donations. They encouraged everyone to spread the word in the next week to reach the $500K mark. Ms. Glennon also thanked the donor families who participated in memory of loved ones as well as the donor recipients who made it through the race. She reminded everyone to “Remember [the donors] every day of our lives.”
Ms. Glennon assured everyone, “We’ll see you next year,” and then Ms. Albanese invited everyone to “dance it out.” The DJ played Beautiful Day by U2, while as Ms. Glennon put it, “The littlest member of Team Courtney” danced in front of the stage. After one last, “We’ll see you next year,” Ms. Glennon remarked that the sun was coming out, adding, “The sun is shining because of your loved ones shining down on you.”
The New Providence Business & Professional Association hosted the event.
Please remember to donate online before June 20th at: http://sharenj.donorpages.com/5KWalkRun2011/
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