The second annual Peter J. Biondi Memorial trail run-walk at the Sourland Mountain Preserve on East Mountain Road in Hillsborough will be held Sunday, Oct. 12, at 10 a.m.
All net proceeds go to the Samaritan Homeless Interim Program (SHIP).
The trail run-walk is in honor of Mr. Biondi, who was a Hillsborough mayor, county freeholder and served in the General Assembly from 1998 until his passing in 2011. He is remembered for his advocacy on behalf of his constituents and his desire to help those in need.
This year participants will have the option to run-walk a challenging 4-mile course within the confines of the county preserve. A two-mile course is available for walkers. The 4-mile course will be timed by Racing NJ.
Last year SHIP raised more than $17,000 and this year the goal is to double that amount. One of the ways to achieve that is by issuing a celebrity challenge.
The organizing committee is asking all celebrities in Somerset County and their friends throughout the region to make a donation or match the gifts, in the amount of $500 to $1,500, received from or in the names of Loretta Lynn ("the Coal Miner’s Daughter"), Patrick "Mutts" McDonnell, Steel Tips a CBGB’s Punk Rock Band and others.
SHIP is a faith-based, interfaith, community funded and supported registered charitable agency. SHIP’s clients are the homeless, near-homeless, working poor families and individuals in the Somerset County region.
Lt. Governor Kim Guadagno is expected to attend.
This year’s major presenting sponsors include: W.J. Casey Trucking & Rigging Company, Loretta Lynn (Coal Miner’s Daughter) and Sue O’Leary and the 16th District legislators: Senator Christopher Kip Bateman, Assemblyman, Jack Ciattarelli and Assemblywoman Donna Simon.
Major sponsors include Tom O’Leary; Galen W. Booth, Esq.; John and Peg Mooney; Zeus Industrial Products, Inc.; Maser Consulting, and the Cusick family of Somerville.
Contributing sponsors include; Thomas H. Dilts, Esq., Woods Tavern, Petrock’s Bar & Grille, Flemington Car & Truck Country & Somerset Patriots, Raritan Valley Orthodontics, P.A., Minuteman Press, Opus Pharma Consulting, Sathya Sai Center of Bridgewater and the Hillsborough Rescue Squad.