September 26, 2005

NEWARK , NJ - The New Jersey Institute of Technology cross country teams may have been tired for having competed on Saturday, but they completed a busy weekend by volunteering at the 12 th Newport Liberty Waterfront run in Jersey City, NJ on Sunday.

On Saturday, the NJIT runners had traveled to Philadelphia , competed in the Metro Championship there and then returned home to Newark . The next morning, at 6:30 , nearly 25 squad members and friends arrived to volunteer at the race in Jersey City .

The teams manned three water stations for the runners in the 13.1 mile race. In addition to providing much needed hydration in the form of water and Gatorade along the route, they cheered and offered encouragement to the participants. In turn, the participants offered appreciation to the volunteers.

Children's Hospital of Hudson County at Jersey City Medical Center benefited from the proceeds of the race. The Children's Hospital operates the Kazmir Family regional perinatal center, neonatal intensive care unit, and the area's only pediatric intensive care unit. Caring for the region's sickest children, the Children's Hospital ranks second in the state in emergency pediatric admissions.

We all benefit from our communities and I feel we should all try to give a little something back, said NJIT head coach Al Alonso, who organizes the team's community service.

The teams will next be volunteering for the benefit of St. Mary's Hospital in Hoboken , NJ on October 8 th.