This week on Jersey Magazine, we have what you need to know about the 2023 Running With the Devils 5K Run and Walk, plus details on this year’s Students Change Hunger Campaign on WDHA.
JIM MONAGHAN – The 7th annual Running with the Devils 5K Run and Walk is Sunday, October 29. It takes place at South Mountain Recreation Complex in West Orange. And Justin Edelman is my guest this morning. He is the Senior Vice President Corporate Partnerships for RWJ Barnabas Health. Justin, good morning and welcome.
JUSTIN EDELMAN – Good morning. Thanks for having me, Jim.
JM – For listeners who are new to this event, tell them about it.
JE – So, as you said, it’s the 7th Annual RWJ Barnabas health Running With the Devils 5K Run and Walk. It really is an amazing partnership between us and the New Jersey Devils, and we’re both committed to building healthier communities. We use this event to raise really important funds for programs around the state at our healthcare facilities. And more than anything, we encourage people to come out, have a great time. You can run, you can walk, and we even have a virtual option.
JM – The virtual option actually runs through the entire month of October, if I’m not mistaken.
JE – That’s right. We want to make sure that people with busy schedules, or if they recognize that they can’t get there on that day, they have an opportunity to run throughout the month. And the virtual option is really cool. You actually download the app and you can run anywhere. You can run in your neighborhood, you can run around a track. And what’s nice about it is you’ll get really encouraging messages from Devils players, from healthcare heroes, and from some of our patients each mile post that you hit throughout your run.
JM – What’s new this year for the 7th Annual event, Justin?
JE – So there are a few things that are new and exciting. One, we’re bringing the Walk back together with the Run. So the Walk was held separately in the last several years. We’re all going to start in the same place. The Run will start at 9 AM. The Walk will follow just after that at 9:15, also going around the South Mountain Recreation Reservoir. In addition, we have an exciting new program at the Turtle Back Zoo for younger kids. It’s going to be called the Get Fit with Animals at Turtle Back Zoo. And kids will have the opportunity to have a passbook, do some fun exercises, and win medals and other prizes. So we’re really excited about that.
JM – I have two dogs here in the house at home that would love to participate in that, because they love to run, they love exercise. I should bring them over.
JE – Absolutely.
JM – What are some of the onsite perks that you have for people this year?
JE – So when people come out, we’re going to have a lot of interactive games and activities. The Devils bring out a lot of fun stuff that people can participate in in advance of and following the event, we’ll also have Devils alumni there – Colin White and Grant Marshall and Bruce Driver. Matt Loughlin, the voice of the Devils will be there, and he’ll serve as the master of ceremonies. It really is just a fun and exciting day. Everybody who also comes out gets entry into the Turtle Back Zoo. And if you haven’t been to the zoo, it is absolutely fantastic, an amazing place, and it just makes for such a great day to run, be active and then go enjoy the zoo.
JM – Justin Edelman is the Senior Vice President Corporate Partnerships for RWJ Barnabas Health. Justin, talk about the relationship that the RWJ Barnabas Health Organization has had with the New Jersey Devils over the years, because when I think of them, they’re almost interchangeable.
JE – Thanks. I appreciate you saying that. We are the official healthcare provider of the New Jersey Devils. We work really closely with them. We have for a number of years. We also have the RWJ Barnabas Health Hockey House, which is not only the Devils’ practice facility, but all of the youth teams, the club teams, the high school teams, they all play there throughout the year. So we’re able to work with them and interact and provide all of those children and families with really important off the ice information like nutrition and wellness and sports, injury prevention and concussion. The Devils have a very similar philosophy to us and they are very much about the community being of and part of the community. And we work hard together. And this event really does that. We talk about building healthier communities. This directly impacts and gets people out and asks people to live an active, healthy lifestyle.
JM – I’m glad you mentioned the word “community,” because the Devils are such a big part of the resurgence of Newark. Some years ago, I worked for the Newark Bears baseball team and it was so cool being a part of something positive happening in the city. And to see the way that the city has embraced the Devils and vice versa has really been remarkable, Justin.
JE – Yeah, there’s no doubt about it. We’ve seen a renaissance that’s taking place in Newark, really in and around the Prudential Center. Wow. It’s amazing what has happened and how it’s transformed. And I’ll tell you, this year, this is hopefully the Devils’ year. They really have an amazing young team. They are on the rise and everybody should really get behind them because they are truly New Jersey’s team.
JM – For WDHA listeners who want to get involved in this year’s event, Justin, what’s the best way they can do that?
JE – So they can go to rwjbh.org/runningwiththedevils. And when you go to the website, you can sign up for any of the Run, the Walk, the Virtual Race, and it has all of the information that everybody needs for the race weekend events.
JM – And again, that is the 7th Annual Running With the Devils 5K. Run and Walk. The event taking place on October 29 at the South Mountain Recreation Complex in West Orange. The virtual event running through the month, rwjbh.org/runningwiththedevils. Justin, thank you so much for your time this morning here on Jersey Magazine. And best of luck with this year’s event.
JE – Thank you. Really appreciate it, Jim, and I would be remiss if I didn’t say we couldn’t make it possible without some of our great sponsors. Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield, New Jersey Imaging Network, Sodexo Magic and Kayal Orthopedics. They’re all great partners of our us. And we look forward to everybody coming out and joining us on October 29.
Rock N Ruff
Bonded Brothers
A bit of kitten relaxation
Elton and Percy are best friends
Hi Animal Loving Friends!
It’s Terrie Carr and I am thrilled to share two amazing cats (kittens actually) from the awesome Randolph Regional Shelter this week!
If you are looking for a pair of fun, friendly, bonded buddies look no further than Percy and Elton! Percy and Elton are only three months old, are living in a foster home and love to play, get pets and love and attention from humans, and provide fun and entertainment for the whole family, racing around, chasing toys, playing with each other and then hanging together cuddling, snuggling and keeping each other (and you) company. These guys are simply AWESOME! Percy and Elton are fully vetted, vaccinated, neutered, healthy and ready to go to a new home and start their new life.
If you are interested in adopting Percy and Elton please reach out to the shelter and my good friend and shelter sister Sunny Nowell at Randolph Regional Animal Shelter or call for info 973-543-9333.
As always, thank you for supporting animal rescue and our OPT TO ADOPT initiative!
Terrie Carr
