MIDDLETOWN--Middletown’s 10th Run4Downtown got its official kick off at Franklin Square on Aug. 7. The race will be on Aug. 15 beginning at 8:45 am for walkers and 9:00 am for runners. “The Run4Downtown is like Middletown—It’s all-inclusive. It’s young, its old, it’s all ethnicities,” said Dave Madden, owner of Something Sweet and organizer of the event.
Participants will be issued a number with a computer chip built in that will record their finishing time. Prizes will be awarded in the order of finish. Called a Challenge Event, women will have an almost five minute lead on the men racers.
Wild Soul Yoga studio will host an outdoor yoga event. The YMCA will have a fun zone for kids with a kids’ dash for kids 12-under. There will be face painting, hoola hooping, and an inflatable caterpillar. All kids’ activities will be free that day.
The day will round out with Taste of the Town on the North Street. Madden said 17 restaurants will provide food to the runners and anyone else who buys a $10 wristband. There will be a post-run part at Franklin Square entertained by the band First Round. A beer and wine garden will be hosted by Poor Bobby’s Hard Times Tavern.
Giving Back
Madden, with his wife Anna, have been behind the event since its beginning. “We created the Run4DT as a way to raise some money and give a little bit back to our community.”
The event is sponsored by the Run4Downtown organizing committee and Orange Regional Medical Center. There were 133 participants in 2006 and the number grew to 584 participants last year. Madden said he will be happy if the event exceeds 600 participants this year.
Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine will have a presence in several ways. Students and their family members will participate in the run or walk. Touro CEO and Dean of Student Affairs Dr. Jerry Cammaratta said the college will have a tent to administer osteopathic manipulation services to runners after the race.
Touro’s Chairman of Osteopathic Medicine Dr. Martin Torres announced that some of their medical students will provide the treatments under supervision by board certified physicians. “It’s a great opportunity for our students to be involved in the community.”
Mayor DeStefano said the event has previously contributed about $28,500 to benefit the Business Improvement District and has committed $12,000 in proceeds from this year’s race. The final payment on a $25,000 street clock to be constructed on King Street will be made.
Past runs have made possible downtown banners, park improvements on North Street, and a welcome to downtown sign on Wickham.
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