2016 novo nordisk NJ Marathon runners raise funds to strengthen Long Branch families.

The Long Branch Concordance Family Success Center is excited to announce the 2016 fundraising campaign "Running With a Purpose." New Jersey marathon runners have the opportunity to raise funds through online pledges and corporate donors.

Andrew Richter, founder and writer of FitnessFortheRegularGuy.BlogSpot.com, a health and nutrition blog with hundreds of followers, is proudly running the full marathon - but with a purpose - to raise funds for the Long Branch Concordance Family Success Center.  Andrew believes in the mission of this community-based, family-focused resource center that finds resources for people in need, fosters individual and family development and creates partnerships for community well-being; all of which build a better Long Branch and Monmouth County.

Andrew is a New York-based radio news director and lives in Cliffwood Beach.  He ran in the NJ Marathon in 2014 and is actively training for the 2016 full marathon in Long Branch and blogging his experiences, tips and motivational thoughts for "the regular guy." A native of nearby Ocean Township, he calls Long Branch his second hometown. Andrew says, "Long Branch is my not-exactly hometown. I went to Seashore Day Camp every summer for years as a kid. My dad lived in Long Branch during my high school years and he owned a mechanic's garage uptown. My grandfather was a longtime volunteer at the Elberon Fire Department and Richter's Garage was across the tracks in Elberon. My great-grandmother spent the last decade and a half of her life in Oceanpoint Towers overlooking the boardwalk. And my wife, Jackie, and I get season beach badges at Long Branch every summer. I know that it's a much different story a few blocks in from the ocean. So, helping out folks in Long Branch is a natural cause for me."

There are a few other NJ runners on Team Long Branch Concordance who will run along the Jersey Shore to the finish line on the boardwalk at Pier Village. One of our runners will even join us all the way from sunny Palm Harbor, Florida and will make the trip to the Jersey Shore just for the race. Anyone can "Run With a Purpose" and make their race count by giving back to the Jersey Shore town of Long Branch and making its families strong and resilient by supporting Team LBC.

Everyone in Long Branch and Monmouth County community has a chance to give back and build a stronger community which fosters self-reliant families, thriving business and vibrant real estate.  Tax deductible contributions can be make through Corporate Sponsorship, sponsoring a team runner on http://www.crowdrise.com/runningwithapurposef or joining our Team LBC as a runner and asking friends, family and colleagues to sponsor the run.

For questions or more information on Corporate Sponsorship, sponsoring a runner or running for Team LBC, contact Elena Delaney, Volunteer and Community Resource Coordinator at 732-571-1670 or elena@lbc4help.org.

To learn more about the  programs, workshops, events and 7th Avenue Community Garden visit lbc4help.org.