Flag Day 5K Run & Walk to Help Homeless Veterans

Annual Flag Day 5K Run and Walk on June 14th to Help Homeless Veterans

The Somerset Hills YMCA will host the 11th Annual Flag Day 5K Run at 7:00pm on Thursday, June 14th at the Somerset Hills YMCA, 140 Mount Airy Road in Basking Ridge.  Proceeds benefit homeless veterans at Community Hope’s Hope for Veterans® Transitional Housing Program at the nearby Lyons VA campus.

With thousands of former servicemen and women sleeping on the street or in shelters on any given night in New Jersey, the YMCA has been dedicating the event to helping homeless veterans for the past ten years.

“Hope for Veterans® is an innovative program that acknowledges the sacrifice that our service men and women make to protect our freedom.  It ensures that our local veterans will have the opportunity to establish their independence and live their lives with dignity,” said Michael Surella, Director of Wellness and Sports at the Somerset Hills YMCA.  “One of our three key areas of focus is social responsibility and, as an organization dedicated to helping people learn grow and thrive,  the Somerset Hills YMCA is proud to lend its support to helping our veterans in need through the Flag Day 5K.”

The Flag Day 5K race will be run on a fast and flat USATF sanctioned and certified course.  Runners will begin and end the race at the Somerset Hills YMCA.  Mile markers will be available and time will be provided by Bestrace computer services.  The Flag Day 5K is a USATF New Jersey Grand Prix event and runners will get 500 points for participating.

In recognition of Flag Day, donations are being accepted in honor or in memory of a special veteran which will help homeless veterans rebuild their lives within the Hope for Veterans® Program.  These honorary and memorial tributes will be listed in the Flag Day 5K Run event journal and can be made directly through the Community Hope web site at http://www.communityhope-nj.org/events.5krun.

Developed and operated by the nonprofit organization Community Hope, Hope for Veterans® opened in 2004 as the largest program in the state for homeless veterans and has helped over 550 veterans rebuild their lives.  The charity, in partnership with private developer Peabody Properties, will soon break ground on a second program at the Lyons campus.  The construction of 63 units of permanent housing for veterans is slated to begin this year. 

Registration forms for the June 14th Run are available at Somerset Hills YMCA or online at www.communityhope-nj.org.  On-site registration will be available on race day until 6:30pm.  The cost to pre-register is $25 or $23 for USTF members.  Day-of race registration is $30.  All pre-registered participants will receive a T-shirt.  Trophies will be awarded to the top male and female finishers.  Medals will be given to the top three male and female finishers in eight age groups.

For more information on the race, please contact the YMCA at 908-766-7898 ext. 519.  For more information on the Hope for Veterans® Program or to pledge a tribute to a veteran, please visit the Community Hope web site or call the Development Office at 973-463-9600, extension 308.

The Somerset Hills YMCA is a charitable community service organization, rooted in Christian values and dedicated to helping all people grow in spirit, mind and body.  We are guided by our core principles of caring, honesty, respect and responsibility.

For morinformation, please visit www.somersethillsymca.org or call 908-766-7898.