Bridgewater-Raritan HS Senior Hosts Domestic Violence Charity Run

BRIDGEWATER, NJ — Bridgewater Raritan High School senior John Anthony Cicale is helping to raise money and awareness for domestic abuse through a 5K run.

Cicale has been a member of the SPEAK™ 5K Run Planning Committee — a committee made up of representatives from high schools throughout Somerset County — since he was a freshmen and "instantly became dedicated to the cause."

"As a high school student, I did not know the severity of domestic abuse and the toll it took on a victim's life," Cicale said. "I was shocked to learn that one in three adolescents in the United States are victims of physical, emotional, or verbal abuse from a dating partner. Domestic abuse is a horrid issue affecting high school students every day and as a member of the SPEAK™ 5K Run Planning Committee, I aim to use this event to get people in the community talking about this problem."

Cicale and his committee work alongside Safe+Sound Somerset to organize the annual 5K run. Safe+Sound Somerset is a local nonprofit organization that aids victims escaping abusive relationships through its safe house, transitional housing, counseling, and legal advocacy services.

In the past three years, Cicale and his committee have raised more than $12,500 to support Safe+Sound Somerset’s evidence-based therapy programs.

The SPEAK™ 5K Run will be held on Sunday, April 7 at Duke Island Park in Bridgewater. In-person registration begins at 8 a.m. and the run officially begins at 9 a.m.

The race is open to everyone and family-friendly as participants can either run or walk. The run has been sanctioned by the United States Track and Field Association and can be used by runners as a qualifying time for future runs.

For more information and to register, click here.

Image 1 by Diane Buckridge: Bridgewater Raritan High School volunteers John Anthony Cicale and Maggie Buckridge at the run.

Image 2 by Veronica Finlay: Runners at the starting line at Duke Island Park, Bridgewater.

Image 3 provided: Poster for event.

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