Foster the Family of Cherry Hill hosted its fifth annual 5K at the Challenge Grove Park on May 2 to raise money for its own operations.
The event – which included a 1-mile walk with kids and families – is usually the organization’s biggest fundraiser. There were an estimated 80 runners and 50 walkers who raised just over $14,000, compared with $22,000 raised with twice the runners last year.
Jesse Boykin, the New Jersey branch director of Foster the Family, said the reason for the difference was this year’s May date.
“Runs are kind of a dime a dozen,” he said. “Hard to compete with all that … We had it in June last year. I think that helped, because May seems to be a prime time. And then we also had a couple different running groups that came. So that really bumped up the numbers.”
Boykin added that the issue of dates won’t affect Foster the Family’s operations, because the organization reduced its budget by 50% at the the beginning of the year.
The first two years of the run/walk were at the Gloucester Township Community Park, but three years ago, it was switched to Challenge Grove, because Cherry Hill is more central to the counties the organization serves.
Foster the Family volunteer Tatianna Jameson joined the organization after finding out about it at her church.
“They came to my church and I love the mission of supporting foster kids,” she explained. “And then, it’s so funny, I started volunteering, and then I asked my family if they wanted to volunteer … Then I forced my husband. And now both my moms and then my siblings volunteer, too.
“So it’s a family passion now.”
Fellow volunteer Patricia Dickler was glad the rain didn’t prevent the run/walk, and said she believes the event helped bring people out.
“It’s a nice way to engage the community,” she noted. “There are the athletic people that come for the run, and then there are people who come to support the cause. So it’s nice. So we can get the word out and remind people that there’s kids out there that need a little help.”
Blake Lawson crosses the finish line with his son at the 5K – the fifth for Foster the Famiy of Cherry Hill – at Challenge Grove Park.
Bloom Audio was a sponsor for the event, which included runners from the company.
Blake Lawson, who won the race, crossed the finish line with his son in a stroller.
“Friends invited us,” he said. “It’s a good cause and a good excuse to be outside …”
Jerry McKenzie of Pennsauken has a lot of runs under his belt.
“I ran track in high school,” he recalled. “I’ve run marathons, run 10 marathons. This is actually pretty good … Now that I’m older, it’s good to prove you can still do it.”
