Tomorrow at the South Mountain Recreation Complex in West Orange, New Jersey, the Devils will host their third annual “Running with the Devils” event sponsored by RWJBarnabas Health.
Registration can be done on the day of the race and will feature a charitable 5K race – the course is USATF certified – and a Family Walk. Those events will take place at 9AM tomorrow morning.
Prior to that, there will be a New Jersey Mascot Race that begins at 8:20AM. This will be an obstacle course race “for bragging rights” according to the press release put out by RWJBarnabas Health.
The mascots involved will be NJ Devil, Buster of the Lakewood BlueClaws, Scarlet Knight (Rutgers University), Sparkee of the Somerset Patriots, Tiger of Princeton University, Boomer (Trenton Thunder), Shadow (Monmouth University), Pirate (Seton Hall University) and Myrtle the Turtle (Turtle Back Zoo – which is located in the Recreation Complex).
According to the press release, other attendees and highlights include Devils alumni Colin White and Grant Marshall (who will serve as the race starters and be on hand to take photos with participants) and former New York Giant David Diehl, who is an RWJBarnabas Ambassador.
Also attending will be Barry H. Ostrowksy, the President and Chief Executive Officer of RWJBarnabas Health and Jake Reynolds, President of the Devils.
Other highlights will see the Bloomfield (New Jersey) Fire Department having a team running in full firefighter gear and John Kuhi of Ocean Township running alongside his son. Kuhi, 76, was a New Jersey track star in his youth and is now the coach of the Monmouth University track team. He is also a two-time cancer survivor.
In addition to all of that will be carnival games and Wellness on Wheels, a 35-foot vehicle that is “equipped with a hydroponic greenhouse and a full kitchen.” The Devils interactive mobile unit will also be on hand.
The press release said that the whole “event supports the commitment of both RWJBarnabas Health and the New Jersey Devils to build healthier communities by promoting healthy, active lifestyles and world-class healthcare. Proceeds from the charitable race and day of family-friendly fun will benefit the programs and services of RWJBarnabas Health and its local facilities.”
I will be attending this event to participate in the walk and encourage anyone who can to as well. It is always a fun day and helps benefit local hospitals and healthcare facilities that work for us and our communities.