On Sunday, October 29th, RWJBarnabas Health held their 7th annual Running with the Devils 5k Run & Walk at the Essex County South Mountain Recreation Complex. This year, despite inclement weather, the continuing partnership between RWJ Barnabas and the New Jersey Devils went off without a hitch. For those who were unable to attend the actual in-person 5k Run & Walk, there was even a virtual format offered, which allowed participants to run and walk in their favorite local locations between October 1st and 29th via the app RunGo.
Aside from the enticing opportunity to run in a race or take a nice stroll at the scenic reservoir at South Mountain Recreation Complex, there were a number of other incentives for people to participate in the 5k Run & Walk. One that was a draw for many a family was free admission to the Turtle Back Zoo following the race, which held many family-friendly activities over the course of the day. While the virtual participants missed out on the extra activities that the zoo had the day of the event, all virtual participants still received free access to the Turtle Back Zoo between October 30th and December 30th.
On top of a free day at the zoo and the satisfaction of completing the race or walk, through the partnership with the New Jersey Devils, even more incentives were offered to individuals and teams, both in-person and virtual, for their fundraising efforts. Some of these incentives include tickets to New Jersey Devils games, signed New Jersey Devils merchandise, and the opportunity to engage with former players in the organization. The top three finishers overall, as well as in multiple age categories, were all given awards as well. All of the proceeds from this event are being used by RWJ Barnabas Health to continue providing essential care to those who need it, regardless of their own challenges.
