The Maywood Hawk 5K is gearing up for another successful run in 2013, and spreading the word to runners and walkers from all over to join in this community driven event.
On Sunday, Oct. 6 at 9 a.m., participants will lineup from at Memorial Park, a community center located in northern Maywood, NJ. Participants can run or walk at their preferred pace, as the 5K's purpose is not competition, but promoting fun and health awareness. Additionally, all proceeds will be forwarded to the Maywood Avenue Middle School's music program, a program in which race director Jean Carlos Mercedes was a member for all five of his years at the school.
One year ago, at the age of 19, together with the Maywood Hawk 5K committee, Mercedes organized the first Maywood Hawk 5K. That year, the funds went towards the middle school's sports program. However, in 2013, Mercedes and the committee decided that the money should go somewhere else.
"It's not only about basketball and cross country. There are so many talented students in a variety of programs at that school and we want to help as many as we can," said Mercedes.
Though he has since moved from Maywood and now attends William Patterson University, Mercedes's love for his childhood community has never faltered. Now living in Englewood, Mercedes spends countless hours traveling back to Maywood for meetings with the town's politicians.
For Mercedes, it has been a learning experience. The second time around, things have gone a little smoother. This is a dream come true for Mercedes, despite the hardships. While jogging at midnight, over two years ago, Mercedes passed his middle school and felt he could use his legs to give back to his community. Though it did not take long for the difficulties of following a dream to become apparent. After meeting with Councilman Adrian Febre, Mercedes was told he would need at least 50 runners to participate in the race, or the event would be cancelled. The team behind organizing the race rose to the challenge, and that number was not only met, it was shattered, as the first Maywood Hawk 5K had 142 participants.
Ultimately, Mercedes aims to continue growing the race's popularity, in hopes of one day having 500 people racing down the streets of Maywood in the Hawk 5K. To help him get there, register for the race at Maywoodhawk5k.com.
*The Maywood Hawk 5K Committee consists of the Maywood Middle School alumni who share Jean Carlos Mercedes' passion for their school and community.
Ben Wagle, Eugene Williams, Marcelo Escudero, Anthony Roldan, Juan David Lopez, Frank Stefano, Mollie Melillo, George Infante, Catherine Kondyra, Jennifer Parungao and Chris Ottstadt.