Berkeley DARE Classic 5k Race will help children

BERKELEY — Get ready, set, run! The fourth annual Berkeley DARE Classic 5k Race and one-mile run and walk is scheduled to be held rain or shine Saturday morning at Veterans Park, Veterans Boulevard, here.

The one-mile event will start at 9 a.m., with the 5k following at 9:40 a.m. The event is sponsored by the Berkeley Drug Abuse Resistance Education program and the township Municipal Alliance, in conjunction with the Ocean Running Club.

Nonracers also are invited to stop by the park to enjoy the music and children's activities. Last year, about 600 people attended.

Race participants will receive a T-shirt and can eat all the food they want. There will be music and activities for children, such as face painting, spin art and temporary tattoos provided by the township Recreation Department.

The DARE Classic 5k is a USATF-sanctioned race, which means it conforms to USA Track and Field's standards for competition and safety. In addition, it ensures that the course is accurately and professionally measured, and it is nationally certified in the event that a record time is set during the race.

All proceeds from the event will directly benefit the Berkeley DARE program, the Municipal Alliance and, ultimately, the children of the community, according to Officer Scott Selby, who runs the DARE program with Officer Damon Pappa.

DARE is taught in the township school district and at Central Regional Middle School with a mission to provide children with the information and skills they need to live drug- and violence-free lives.

"Our goal is to teach kids the tools that they will need to avoid negative influences and instead make good decisions for themselves. Additionally, we establish positive relationships between students and law enforcement, teachers and parents," Pappa said.

Registration may be completed in advance by visiting www.berkeleydare.com or on the day of the race.

For more information, call (732) 269-4456.