YMCA and PTA Council ‘unite’ to raise money for cancer programs

FANWOOD-SCOTCH PLAINS — The Fanwood-Scotch Plains YMCA and the Scotch Plains-Fanwood PTA Council are joining to host a second “5K Run” and “Family 1 Miler” on Saturday, April 6, beginning at 8:30 a.m. The event will start and end at the Y, located at 1340 Martine Ave., Scotch Plains. The goal of the event is to celebrate and provide opportunities for health and wellness within the community. Proceeds from “United for a Cause” will benefit the Livestrong Program at the YMCA and the Scotch Plains-Fanwood PTA Council Health and Wellness Scholarship.

Livestrong at the YMCA is a 12-week physical activity program free to members of the community recovering from cancer. The Livestrong program enables the YMCA to offer participants educational seminars, childcare assistance and services for financial management. The program helps recovering cancer survivors “get their lives back” physically, mentally and spiritually. The “United for a Cause” 5K is a healthy community event that will give back to local families and students.

Many local students choose to pursue a career in the health and wellness field and this event will acknowledge a student’s positive intentions by providing scholarship monies to put toward their college, school or training program costs. By providing financial support, “United for a Cause” hopes to foster their desire to make the world a healthier place.

The “Family 1 Miler” fun walk/jog/run will begin at 8:30 a.m. with the 5K beginning at 9:15 a.m. There is a registration fee to participate. Individual donations can also be made to benefit the fund. Children younger than the age of 10 must be accompanied by an adult. No pets will be allowed on the courses. You can register at the Y or at www.unitedforacause5k.com. There will be a race check-in and package pick-up for this event at the YMCA on April 5 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.; all registered runners and walkers should pick up their packets during the scheduled time.

Contact Sheri Cognetti, senior program director at the YMCA, at 908-889-8880 or at [email protected] with any questions.