TEF Holds Its 19th Annual 5K
June 26, 2017
On June 4th the town held its 19th annual TEF Tenafly 5K Run and Dog Walk, a fundraising event for the Tenafly Education Foundation featuring over a thousand runners in multiple races.
The purpose of the annual event is to raise funds for the nonprofit organization, which funds teacher-initiated programs in the town’s seven schools. Several companies, including Honda of Tenafly, BMW of Tenafly, The Joint, TD Bank, and Englewood Hospital, sponsored the event and offered give-aways to participants. The high school’s TEF Club and Key Club contributed by setting up tables and offering face-painting to children of all ages.
This year’s run was highly successful. According to Mark and Judy Aronson, spokesmen for the TEF, the event raised $35,000. Nine-hundred and seventy-eight runners ran the 5k race, while 155 runners ran alongside their dogs in the 5k Dog Walk. Other highlights included a one-mile fun run, a dog parade, and tiger cub races.
The 5K encourages fitness for Tenafly residents of all ages and offers a chance for the runners of today to interact with the runners of tomorrow. “The 5K is a great way to end the track season with the team, racing,” said Kevin Kim, a junior, who finished first in his age group and thirteenth overall. Will Hawkins, a sophomore who finished second in his age group and fourteenth overall, agreed. “For runners on the track team, it’s a fun way to end the season and transition into summer training for cross country,” he said. “And after the race, the cross-country team always runs with the younger kids in the Fun Run.” Ines Greenway, a junior who finished first in her age group, prefers to use her running time as a base to begin her summer training. “I also think the 5K is a great way for the town to get together and have fun,” she said.
Next year’s 5K will be held on Sunday, June 3rd.