Nov. 2, 2006

HOBOKEN, NJ - St. Mary Hospital in Hoboken raised over $70,000 at its eighth annual 5K Run River Walk and Kids Dashes held on October 7.

The event, which had numerous corporate sponsors, was supported as a community service program by members of the New Jersey Institute of Technology cross country and track and field teams, led by their coach Al Alonso, who is also the race director.

The Highlanders managed the course and coordinated the kids dashes. There were more than 300 runners in the 5K race, about 50 walkers in the River Walk along the Hudson River waterfront in Hoboken and 75 kids in the kids dashes.

Participants came from all over New Jersey, as well as from around the metropolitan area from New York, Connecticut and from neighboring Pennsylvania. Other runners came from as far away as Michigan, Georgia and Virginia.

The oldest operating hospital in New Jersey, St. Mary was threatened with the possibility of closure earlier this year, so fundraising remains vital to its future as the only hospital in Hoboken, a city of about 40,000 people.

Coach Alonso has been involved with the race since its inception eight years ago, reflecting a long dedication to community service in his personal life. Since taking over as NJIT's cross country coach in 2003, he has made community service projects a major component of the cross country and track and field programs and the student-athletes have embraced the projects, taking on a variety of such projects throughout the year.