Mercer Space - Tuesday, September 28, 2010
The first annual Alexander’s Run is scheduled to take place Oct. 30 at 9 a.m. The run will be held rain or shine.
The event is in honor of Alexander Michael Dodson, who passed away suddenly in his sleep at the age of 19 and a half months in December 2008.
The 5K race will officially begin at 9 a.m. on East Front street. The course will pass several historic Trenton landmarks, including the Battle Monument, The Old Barracks, the State Capitol Complex, and the Mill Hill neighborhood.
Michelle Emerson, Alexander’s mother, is the race director. Emerson said the route was planned by her husband, Dan Dodson, who is interested in Trenton history.
The 5K will be officiated by Baldasari and Leestma, who certify courses and provide official timing and scoring for races. Prizes will be awarded to top 5K finishers in each age category.
The event will also include a one mile family costume fun run and walk. A Halloween costume contest will follow the run.
After the races, there will be refreshments and entertainment, including an appearance by Alex from Alex and the Kaleidoscope Band and a performance by the Trenton Thrill Dancers.
Other activities planned, include face painting and pumpkin decorating. Emerson said they planned the race around Halloween so that there would be fun activities for children.
“We wanted to be able to have children involved,” Emerson said.
Emerson said that the event has generated interest and they have already begun to receive race registrations.
Money raised from the event will benefit The Alexander Michael Dodson Memorial Scholarship Fund and the Sudden Unexplained Death in Childhood (SUDC) Program.
The Alexander Michael Dodson Memorial Scholarship fund aides scholarships given to local students attending Pre-K or Kindergarten at private schools in the Mercer County region.
In the summer of 2010, scholarships from the foundation helped 10 students from Trenton attend the Stuart Country Day Summer Stars camp. That camp, for students in second through sixth grade, provides educational activities and enrichment in a 4-week summer session.
The SUDC Program is an organization that funds medical research and provides support for people and families affected by SUDC.
Registration for the 5K race is $20 if received in the pre-registration period. On the day of the race, 5K registration fees are $25. There is a $2 pre-registration discount for members of the New Jersey Association of USA Track and Field (USATF-NJ) or the New Jersey Road Runners Club (NJRRC).
Registration for the one-mile family fun run and walk is $10 for the first family member, and $5 for each additional participant from the same household.
Pre-registration for the races is available online through Oct. 29 at 2 p.m. If registering by mail, envelopes must be postmarked by Oct. 22.
Registration on the morning of the race will take place at Mill Hill Park.
The organizers of Alexander’s Run are also seeking volunteers to help on the day of the event.
More information about Alexander’s Run is available online at www.alexandersrun.org. Information about volunteering is available via e-mail at volunteer@alexandersrun.org.
