WESTFIELD — The 11th Annual Greta’s Run for Imagine was held in Westfield on May 19, during which more than 1,400 registrants gathered at Roosevelt Intermediate School and helped raise over $150,000 towards Imagine’s free peer grief-support-group program.
Approximately 800 runners and walkers registered for the USATrack and Field Official 5K Race. The top three male runners were Zach Martins of Millburn (Time: 17:23.00); James Borden of Westfield (Time: 17:23.30); and Jeff Perrella of Westfield (Time: 17:39.55). The top three female runners were Nicole Himmelstein of Scotch Plains (Time: 20:29.88); Lina Wright of Westfield (Time: 20:58.78); and Macey Arnold of Madison (Time: 21:25.05). All 5K race finishers received a commemorative medal distributed by event volunteers.
The Kids Fun Run, presented by PSEG, included over 240 children under the age of 10 who ran the 200 yards with all their might and received a commemorative medal and wristband upon crossing the finish line.
The 1 Mile Memory Walk, presented by Wiss, included nearly 400 individuals who walked together on the route, which displayed 100 lawn signs that memorialized friends and family members who have died. Each registrant received a memory ribbon where they could write the name of the person they were walking in memory of.
New to the event this year was the releasing of 20 doves, in partnership with Jersey Shore Doves, in memory of all who have died, as Southpaw performed their song, “Can You See Me.” The song tells the story of grief as a survivor, and wonders about those who have died, and what they can see.
“We were thrilled to be working with Imagine again for the third consecutive year to organize this very special event,” stated Race Directors Nora Gallagher and Tara Jablonski. “The work they do to ensure no one grieves alone is invaluable to our community and we are honored to be working alongside them to spread awareness and help raise funds.”
Imagine, A Center for Coping with Loss is a 501(c)3 nonprofit that offers free, year-round, grief-support groups for children and young adults coping with a loss due to death. Support groups also are available for their parents and guardians, as well as parents who have lost a child age 30 or younger, and are offered in English and Spanish. Imagine provides grief and loss education and training to schools and community organizations, as well as support in the immediate aftermath of a loss to the community.
Greta’s Run began 11 years ago when a group of Greta Schoenemann’s friends decided to honor her memory with a 5K race. Greta died in September of 2002 due to injuries sustained when a branch fell on a group of students as they were eating lunch outside of Westfield High School. Imagine inherited the race in 2019 to continue raising awareness of the impact of grief.
“We continue to be humbled to be the home of Greta’s Run,” said Imagine Executive Director Lindsay Schambach. “Bringing awareness to the realities of childhood bereavement is an honor and a privilege. We are touched by the outpouring of support and all those who donate their time, energy and hearts to our mission of ensuring that no child grieves alone.”
Sponsors who helped underwrite the event and ensure all proceeds support Imagine’s free peer griefsupport groups include the following: Wiss & Company, LLP, PSEG, Fleet Feet, Fairview Cemetery, Lukin Center of Psychotherapy, Eii Electrical Contractors, Alpha Fit Club, ConnectOne Bank, Schuster Family Orthodontics LLC, Joely Triantafyllou-Coldwell Realtor, Ernst & Young, MTT Memorial Fund, The Highland Group, Prime Oral and Facial Surgery of Cranford, Westfield Pediatric Dental Group LLC, BMW of Springfield, The Steinberg Family, Academy of Garwood-Sports Performance, Provident Bank, First Commerce Bank, Bovella’s, Perrotti’s Quality Meats, Pinto Brothers Disposal, Union Pork Store, LLC, Offen Eye, Family Investors Company, JCC of Scotch Plains, Dangler Funeral Home, Premier Business Solutions, Inc., Clifton Larson Allen, Pediatric Dentistry of Union, Michael Robert Construction + Ellie Mroz Design, Rossi Funeral Home, and De Dietrich Process Systems.
To support Greta’s Run and Imagine’s support-group programs, visit https://bit.ly/donategretasrun.
