PISCATAWAY, NJ—The “Run for RAH,” a USATF-certified 5K race and 1-mile Fun Walk will take place for the sixth consecutive year this Sunday, October 26, beginning at the North Gate of the Rutgers football stadium.
The event, sponsored by the Rutgers University Alumni Association (RUAA), supports Rutgers against Hunger (RAH), a university-wide initiative fighting the problem of hunger throughout New Jersey, and kicks off a week of festivities for the school’s annual Homecoming celebration.
The 1-mile Fun Walk starts at 9AM, followed by the 5K at 9:30 AM. Other attractions include a DJ playing music, complimentary refreshments, games, door prizes, and giveaways.
“Proceeds from Run for RAH 2014 will benefit the Middlesex County Food Organization and Outreach Distribution Services (MCFOODS),” states the event website.
Participants may register on Sunday morning, beginning at 8 AM, and are asked to bring at least one non-perishable food item with them on race day.
MCFOODS says that they need the following items: tuna fish, macaroni and cheese, canned meats, pastas, peanut butter, jelly, vegatables, stew, brown rice, fruits, paper products, soap, shampoo, toothpaste, diapers, and wipes.
The course, a USATF-certified 5k loop, both starts and finishes at High Point Solutions Stadium. The surface is 100% paved and relatively flat, but does include some rolling sections.
“The event is a great opportunity to get your friends and family together to celebrate Rutgers’ homecoming, exercise, have fun, and support a good cause,” states the Rutgers website.
Maurice Griffin, Chair of the RUAA, has helped organize the event since its inception. Griffin told NBToday that each year, “the RUAA hosts the Run for RAH, as sort of a way of doing our part as alumni to support the university’s initiative to fight hunger in New Jersey.”
Griffin explained RUAA’s role as the parent alumni association to all three RU campuses. He told NBToday that the RUAA charters many regional clubs and sub-groups such as a rollerblading club, crew team, or the glee club, adding that the overall organization comprises all 450,000 living alumni.
The RUAA tries to give alumni who have graduated an opportunity to get together, said Griffin.
“Our goal is to allow alumni to connect in any way that they can.”
There will be an award presentation at 10:30 a.m. It will include prizes for top runners in all age categories and overall prizes for the winners of team contests.
The race will be timed by CompuScore and the age groups are: Thirteen and under, 14-18, 19-29, 30-39,40-49,50-59, 60-69, 70-79, 80-89, and 90-99.
A total of 268 people finished the 5k last year, according to Compuscore.com.
Notably, three females in the 60-69 year-old age bracket finished the 5k, while seven males in the same age group also finished, according to results posted on Compuscore.com.
Griffin told NBToday that 30-40 people usually take part in the Fun Walk from year to year.
“I think people enjoy it. They know that they are doing something important and giving back and supporting the initiative of Rutgers,” added Griffin, who will be out there walking in the Fun Walk on Sunday.
The event website indicates that 269 participants have pre-registered, and that $6,530 has been raised by various individuals and teams.
“We’ve raised 54% of our goal!” displays a graphic on the Run For RAH website.
The total goal for the event is $12,000.
Dave is an award-winning business reporter who has authored over 200 articles for New Brunswick Today.
