Twilight Challenge Raises Over $3,000 For Fight Against Substance Abuse

This month's Bernards Township Municipal Alliance Twilight Challenge 5K was successful in drawing in over 300 people and $3,000 in profit to support the fight against substance abuse in town.

The race, held on June 6 at Pleasant Valley Park in Basking Ridge, included a 5-kilometer run, a one-mile health walk and a "Lollipop loop" for kids. Each runner brought in donations to the Municipal Alliance through registration fees and sponsor money, raising $3,615 total.

Of the 113 runners who competed in the 5K race, Sarah Glockenmeier of Basking Ridge and Mark Lorello of Budd Lake placed first overall among female and male finishers with times of 19:47 and 18:26, respectively.

"It was a fantastic event, everyone who I talked to while I was there really enjoyed it," Bob Skea of the Municipal Alliance said. "The weather may have some last minute folks away, but I think it was a great success."

Danielle Cooper of the Bernards Township Health Department led a review of the event at the June 8 Municipal Alliance meeting. The Alliance receives grants to help pay for the costs of running the challenge, including purchases of trophies, t-shirts and marketing materials. This year, the Alliance paid a $434 over the grant money, leading to a $3,181 profit on the evening, generally considered by the members to be a good amount, with room for improvement.

Cooper suggested a number of ways the Alliance could cut down on race costs next year. According to Cooper, there are typically a many medals left over each year after the race. The medals are distributed to the first, second and third place finishers in each age group, and since the medals were inscribed with the year of the Twilight Challenge, any extras that were not picked up could not be reused.

Cooper suggested inscribing only first, second or third on the medals instead of the race year, and putting the race year on a cheaper ribbon or sticker to go with the medals. That way, if there are leftovers, the medals can be reused the following year.

Other costs saving measures could be to order fewer t-shirts, and have Municipal Alliance members pledge to bring in more sponsors for the event. By Cooper's estimates, a commitment to bringing in more donors and some simple cost saving measures could more than double race profits in future years.

According to a Municipal Alliance press release, this year's sponsors included Bernards Township Police Benevolent Association Local 357; Bisogno & Loeffler, LLC Attorneys at Law; Dental Associates of Basking Ridge; EmPOWER SOMERSET; Flight Safety International; Gerald A. York; Liberty Cycle; Ling Ling; Monique Loh, Weichert Realtor; Remember K; Luv Ya MJ; ShopRite of Bernardsville; ShopRite of Stirling; Starbucks of Basking Ridge; Quiznos of Basking Ridge, and The Works of Bernardsville.

For more information on the Municipal Alliance, who mission is "to provide consultation, programs, training, and resources to the members of the community with the goal of preventing and reducing the use of alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs," visit www.bernardsalliance.org or call (908) 204-2523.