race | Wear The Cape Kids

The inaugural 5K race for kidkind held this past Saturday was an all-around success, filled with big smiles and big hearts. When runners, volunteers and families arrived at the Warren, NJ Municipal fields, they were greeted by one of the first beautiful days of spring after a grueling New Jersey winter. It was the perfect setting as we joined together to raise money for kids in need while showing the kids we love the power of kindness and character.

The mud on the trails did not stop the 117 runners who came out to support the kidkind foundation, Teens Connecting with Teens and the Warren Recreation Commission’s Summer Camp Scholarship Fund. Thanks to the generosity of sponsors and participants, the event raised over $10,000, meeting our goal! We’d like to thank Gotta Dance for not only being the race for kidkind’s lead sponsor, but also for delivering one of the day’s highlights: dedicated dancers with inspiring routines.

Beyond monetary donations, a big predictor of good character is the giving of ourselves in support of our communities, as we all know. We were so fortunate to have about 50 heroic volunteers who were so generous with their efforts, committed to the success of the fundraiser. The Contender Cheer team was also so giving of their time and talents, posting up at the race’s finish line to encourage runners as they sweated to earn the last mile. This amazing group of young ladies has been supportive of Wear the Cape and the kidkind foundation since our launch last fall, and we are so grateful to them for their unrelenting championing of our mission.

As a whole, the event embodied what Wear the Cape is all about: bringing out the best in others, bringing to light the positive in our world, and bringing about a change in our society.

The outpouring of support from local businesses, volunteers, and the town of Warren was not just a means to an end, but an exercise of camaraderie that strengthened our community, reminding us all that we’re in this together and together we can make a BIG impact.

Recognizing Cape Kid Sami Saunders and highlighting the passion of Cape Kid Olivia Perlmutter, founder of Teens Connecting with Teens, has not only helped balance out all the negative news we hear involving our youth, but these young ladies’ stories have served to inspire others to also be courageous, to find ways to help those in need, and to be Better Than That—above bad choices that hurt themselves and others.

Lastly, little ones seeing these role models and the grown-ups they look up to elevating kindness and virtue as cool and worthy of respect helped spark change in kids’ perspectives and, it is our hope, the way they interact with the world.

Many commented that optimism and goodwill radiated throughout the day at the 5K race for kidkind and Family Festival – we agree, so MISSION ACCOMPLISHED…with the help of all of you!

Choose kind,
Leigh Ann

Stories of fictional heroes detail how they dash and run, performing courageous deeds that save people from harm’s way. On May 3, 2014, we’re asking YOU and your family to be better-than-fiction heroes and participate in our first-ever 5K race for kidkind, which will be held at the Warren Township Municipal Complex Pavilion in Warren, NJ. Let’s join forces to save our communities from the peril of kindness becoming a lost art.

The race for kidkind will feature not only a 5K for adults (runners and walkers welcome), but also tons of kid-friendly activities. A children’s 100-yard dash will include medals for the winners, and a Family Festival with the theme of “building heroes, a kid at a time” will stretch till 1pm. The day promises to be a fun, enriching opportunity for everyday heroes to come together and show the kids we love how to be cool, be kind, and wear the cape.

All proceeds from this event will be used to fund the kidkind foundation, the Warren Recreation Commission’s Summer Camp Scholarship Fund and the work of Cape Kid Olivia, who founded Teens Connecting with Teens to bring students together to help teens with special needs. More to come on this special young lady and her cause, but for now we’ll just say that we’re thrilled to honor Olivia at our event and support her to expand the impact of Teens Connecting with Teens with funds raised by the race.

Prizes will be awarded in our 5K for top male and female overall and group winners! After enjoying the scenic run through the lovely Warren Municipal Fields and Cross Country Course, you’ll want to stay for a family-friendly good time! Games, crafts, food and fun are sure to be abundant, so lace up your sneakers, secure your cape and fly on down to the Warren Township Municipal Complex Pavilion (off of 1 Bardy Road, Warren NJ 07059).

Come wear your cape and help so many kids in need! Check-in and registration will kick off at 7:45am, and the 5K race is set to start at 8:30am. You can preregister online at http://raceroster.com/events/2014/2370/race-for-kidkind for $22 or day-of, on-site registration is $30. Be one of the first 500 registrants and receive a free t-shirt and other great swag! You can also donate to help us reach our goal or, if you’re a business, be a race & festival sponsor (drop me a note at leighann@wearthecapekids.com).

Click here to sign up for what promises to be a feel-good day for all!

Choose kind,

Leigh Ann

P.S. Check out our 5K race for kidkind & Family Festival Flier for more info!