By Lea Kahn, Staff Writer
LAWRENCE — Fireworks did not fill the sky on the Fourth of July in Lawrence Township, but township officials — who canceled the event for lack of money — are hoping to reverse that trend with a fundraiser on Labor Day.
Billed as “Red, White and Bang,” the Lawrence Township Recreation Department is hosting a children’s triathlon event at the Lawrence Swimming Association’s pool at 74 Craven Lane. The goal is to raise money to help pay for the 2011 Fourth of July fireworks celebration.
”We are four weeks past the Fourth of July, and 48 weeks ahead of the 2011 fireworks,” Steven Groeger, the township’s superintendent of recreation, said last week. He said he hopes that people will participate in the triathlon once they realize it is a fireworks fundraiser.
Participation is limited to the first 200 children who register by the Aug. 23 deadline. There is a $25 registration fee. Registration forms, which are available at www.lawrencetwp.com, may be dropped off at the Recreation Department or mailed to the department at 2207 Lawrence Road, Lawrence Township, N.J., 08646.
The event is a scaled-down version of a typical triathlon event for adults. Open to youngsters between 6 and 15, it is divided into swimming, bicycling and running segments, Mr. Groeger said.
Children between 6 and 9 years old will swim 50 meters in the Lawrence Swimming Association’s pool, and then ride their bicycles for two miles in Village Park. The final leg is to run for three-quarters of a mile around the Lawrenceville Elementary School. Check-in is at 9:30 a.m., and the race starts at 10 a.m.
Older children — between 10 and 12 years old — will swim for 100 meters, and 13- to 15-year-olds will swim 200 meters. All will ride their bicycles for two miles in Village Park and run a mile-and-a-half around the Lawrenceville Elementary School. Check-in time is at 7:30 a.m., and the race starts at 8 a.m.
”A couple of people who are active runners who belong to the swim club thought it would be a nice idea to have a triathlon for children,” Mr. Groeger said. “I thought it would be a nice way to create a fundraiser for next year’s fireworks.”
Mr. Groeger said the children’s triathlon was suggested to him by parents Dana Meth and Harper Collins, whose children have participated in similar events in other communities. Ms. Meth and Ms. Collins live in Lawrence.
”We thought it would be fun to run a triathlon in Lawrence,” Ms. Meth said. “We spoke to Mr. Groeger, and he thought the fireworks (fundraising effort) would be a good launch pad. It made sense to use it as a fundraiser.”
Ms. Meth said her family had become accustomed to the annual Fourth of July fireworks show at Rider University, and the children were disappointed when it was canceled for budgetary reasons. Many people plan their Fourth of July weekend around the township-sponsored event, she said.
”Mr. Groeger really wants to start raising money for it,” Ms. Meth said. “It will mean a lot to the children. All the children who participate in the triathlon will feel like they helped to raise money for the fireworks show.”
