Thank you, thank you, thank you to all our runners, walkers, generous donors, dedicated volunteers, local business sponsors and event vendors who helped to make our 26th and final BH5K charity road race and fitness walk, hosted by the Smith Chiropractic Foundation, a year we will never forget. We are so grateful and now dedicate this 26th and final year to all of those who helped make the Berkeley Heights 5K the place to be on the third Sunday morning in September in beautiful downtown Berkeley Heights at Memorial Field for the past 26 years. We could not have done it without all of you.

At this year‘s event, we presented seven charitable grants to the following organizations that have meant so much to us over the years; the BHPD for their youth police academy and community policing initiatives, the BHVRS for keeping us safer all of these years, the BHVFC#1 for their incredible volunteerism and service to our community, BH VFW Post 6259 for post maintenance and continued support of both local veterans and those disabled veterans at Lyons Hospital, Girls on the Run Union County for helping to empower young girls to reach for the stars through road racing and more, GLHS football boosters for the SAFR pro cap helmet project reducing the risk of concussions by up to 77%, and last but not least, Ted Romankow, president emeritus of the Veterans Memorial Park renewal and maintenance committee, for his years of service and dedication to our beautiful Veterans Memorial Park which we enjoy each year at the BH5K.

We also honored the four local BH5K partners and volunteers with our final Community Leadership Awards; media partner Bobbie Peer from TAPinto, merch bag and sign vendor Mary Mayer from Mary’s Your Name Here Embroidery in Millington, long time volunteers Deirdre Murphy and Ira Goldberg, and long time volunteers Luke, Nancy and Adam Sladicka (my brother-in-law, sister-in-law and nephew – got to love your family). Without them, and quite frankly all of you, this event would not have been possible for one year, let alone 26 times.

The weather was picture perfect again; we had sunshine and crystal blue skies 25 out of 26 years. There was another sold out crowd of 526 runners and walkers weaving their way through the tree lined streets of beautiful downtown Berkley Heights, and dozens of smiling children who race across Memorial Field for our free fun runs.

As a result of all of this, we will have another banner year for charitable funds raised bringing our 26 year total of charitable giving to over $300,000 and helping many local organizations with grants. Please check back to our website in another month or so for final numbers and in January, we will have a new list of organizations who received grants from the Smith Chiropractic Foundation as a result of the 26th and final BH5K.

Free BH5K event photos from local photographer David Venezia are available here and on our photo album page. We also had a number of candid shots taken by Bobbie Peer and Natalie Chin available here.

Be sure to check out our 26th anniversary 5K video with drone footage by Thoro. Please click here for a great post-race article from our media partner TAPinto.

Please be sure to visit our Sponsor page and when possible, patronize these local businesses first because without them we wouldn’t have a BH5K and all the good we have done together.

Lastly, although this was an incredibly difficult decision for me, the time felt right to pass this wonderful community event on to the next worthy local charitable organization. Founding and directing the BH5K has been one of the great joys of my life and I will always cherish the amazing things we have done together. Please welcome the Kimberly Anne Wilson Foundation who we feel will not only continue this tradition but will create new and exciting additions. Together let’s all help make the next BH5K presented by the Kimberly Anne Wilson Foundation a success. To learn more about the Kimberly Anne Wilson Foundation and their mission for youth mental health please visit www.Kawfoundation.org.

With kindest regards,

Patrick 

Dr. Patrick Smith
Chairman 
Smith Chiropractic Foundation

Event Director
26th & Final BH5K
Charity road race & fitness walk
www.BerkeleyHeights5k.com

Clinic Director
Smith Chiropractic/Berkeley Heights
Family Care & Sports Injury Center
www.drpatricksmith.com

The Berkley Heights 5K “run for the health of it” charity road race and fitness walk was established in 1996 to help lend support to nonprofit organizations. Since its inception, this event has raised over $300,000 and assisted over 45 local and national charitable organizations and local individuals in need. Please visit our charities page for a complete list of those who receive grants the past 2 years and coming soon for 2023. 

This unique small town event draws runners, walkers and spectators alike to Veterans Memorial Park to join in the festivities. Approximately 400 Runners will race through tree-lined neighborhoods in the Berkeley Heights 5K, which is sanctioned by the USA Track and Field Association. Non-runners and families can enjoy the fun by entering the 1.5-mile fitness walk, which winds through sections of the tree-lined residential 5K course. Our Free Tot Trot and Fun Runs for children ages 2-11 round out the day with over 150 smiling children dashing across Veterans Memorial Park. Please join us this year for a morning of friendly competition and family fun!