OLD BRIDGE – Members of the Lakeridge community laced up their sneakers to run a marathon around their neighborhood, all for a good cause.
“We are a close-knit community of 350 houses and are all friendly,” Ward 2 Councilman Erik DePalma said.
DePalma said in a discussion with Ed Hussey and his wife Kim, the idea of the marathon began after observing more and more neighbors exercising in the neighborhood.
The marathon was held on April 25 to raise money for the Old Bridge Food Bank and first responders. DePalma said neighbors – in a safe manner – participated in many ways, whether it was run as a tag team or run individually.
“I’ve always wanted to do a marathon,” he said of the opportunity. And 26.2 miles and almost six hours later, DePalma completed his first marathon.
“The community effort was phenomenal,” he said.
The community raised more than $2,000 and coordinated with Giusseppe’s Pizza on Route 516, which helped distribute funds to frontline heroes at the COVID-19 testing center at the PNC Bank Arts Center in Holmdel and buy supplies for first responders and non-perishable food items for the Old Bridge Food Bank.