Annual event April 8 a fundraiser for Gloucester Township Day Scholarship Committee
Ever since Orlando Mercado took over as race director for the Gloucester Township 5K Run/Walk, he’s been off and running trying to make the event the best it can be.
Mercado, who has crossed many a finish line throughout his 24 years as a runner, knew he wanted the Gloucester Township 5K to not only be a successful fundraiser for the Gloucester Township Day Scholarship Committee, but also a fun experience.
“I try to take something from each run I’ve done and say, ‘What do I want at my 5K race?’” the Gloucester Township Council president said.
The answer? Live music, inspirational and humorous signs along the running route, local youth cheerleaders encouraging participants at the start and end of the race — and a whole lot more.
Scheduled this year for Saturday, April 8, the Gloucester Township 5K Run/Walk is a popular community event filled with friendly competition. It nets between $12,000 and $13,000 for the GTDSC between sponsorships and registrations. The money helps to provide Gloucester Township high school seniors $1,000 scholarships for college.
“It supports a great cause,” Mercado said. “You have an opportunity to come out and exercise and participate in an event that benefits our students here in Gloucester Township.”
One aspect of the race important to Mercado is the comfortable indoor atmosphere before the race steps off. Runners and walkers register and ready in the Senior Center adjacent to the township municipal building and Veterans Park. There are bathrooms, water and snacks, and also an opportunity to take part in a pre-race stretch. The post-race celebration and awards ceremony — with awards in several age categories — is also held in the Senior Center.
“If there’s inclement weather, at least you’re inside,” Mercado said. The avid runner remembers waiting in the rain for races to begin throughout the years, and he knew he didn’t want that to happen at his race.
Walkers take to Veterans Park, while runners weave through a nearby neighborhood course under the watchful eye of the Gloucester Township Police Department. Half of the road is closed off and it is police monitored, so runners do not need to worry about watching for vehicles along the way.
On Martin Luther King Jr. Day, one of the township service projects was to create signs for the 5K fundraiser. The signs — some serious, some funny, all encouraging — are hung throughout the running route and at the indoor facility for before and after the race.
There are also local youth cheerleaders who volunteer to cheer on the participants.
“They’re out there with a lot of enthusiasm cheering on our runners when they start and finish the race,” Mercado said.
The race director said they are all inclusive, welcoming children with registered parents, parents pushing strollers, competitive runners and those who walk and may take longer than most folks. All are welcome, and every participant will get a race T-shirt.
Following the race, awards will be given in several age categories.
The cost to register for the Gloucester Township 5K Run/Walk is $10 for walkers, and $20 for runners prior to April 6, with the price increasing to $25 after April 6 and on race day. Register at https://register.chronotrack.com/r/22650.
Interested in being a race sponsor? Contact Mercado at omercado@verizon.net or by calling (856) 261–9513.
Learn more about the race at www.glotwp.com, and learn more about the GTDSC at www.gtdsc.org.
