World Subaru presents The Valerie Fund 5K Run & Walk to benefit The Valerie Fund Center at the Unterberg Children’s Hospital at Monmouth Medical Center

Maplewood, N.J. July 22, 2019 – World Subaru will once again proudly partner with The Valerie Fund for their 5K Run and Walk (https://www.thevaleriefund.org/World-Subaru/) to be held on Sunday, October 13, 2019 in Long Branch, New Jersey. Last year, thousands of supporters and patients participated in the 5K run and walk with over $125,000 raised to help children battling cancer and blood disorders.

Tinton Falls World Subaru Executive Manager, Joe Wajda and his sales team are committed to The Valerie Fund Center at The Unterberg Children's Hospital at Monmouth Medical Center. "We are proud to partner with the Valerie Fund for the 4th year in a row for this year's Monmouth Medical Center 5K Run and Walk," Joe said. "Being a part of an event that helps The Valerie Fund deliver critical and life-saving care to children fighting cancer and blood disorders is an honor, and central to World Subaru's mission to raise funds and awareness for the childhood cancer community. In addition, we are donating a brand new 2019 Subaru Crosstrek that will be raffled off the day of the event, with every dollar of raffle tickets purchased going directly to the Valerie Fund."
A maximum of 2,000 tickets will be sold for $100 each. The live drawing for the winner will be done at the event on Sunday, October 13th. Participants may register online and purchase raffle tickets at www.thevaleriefund.org/World-Subaru .
This year we are also adding a new event to help get supporters of all ages in the spirit. The Valerie Fund will be hosting a Kid Sprint 100 yard dash at the 5K run and walk at 9 AM. Event festivities will also include a Kid's Zone entertainment area and free refreshments courtesy of local eateries along with business sponsors displays on The Great Lawn Amphitheatre section of the Long Branch Boardwalk, just north of Pier Village. Following the event, McLoone's Pier House will host an after party at their restaurant in Pier Village. McLoone's will generously offer all runners a complimentary draft beer during the after party.

"When our 9 year old son was diagnosed with leukemia our lives were forever changed. We are grateful to say he's now a happy and healthy 20 year old," said Tim and Beth McLoone. "Thankfully The Valerie Center was a 10 minute ride from our home which was important since we also had the care of his two younger siblings, 8 and 6 years old, to consider. We didn't have to travel a long distance for his treatments and were able to make sure Jack had one of us with him at all times and one of us home with the other children. We don't know how we would have managed it all without The Valerie Center. We were fortunate enough to have additional resources to help support us in this difficult journey. Many in the same situation do not have access to this support which makes the Valerie an even more critical resource."
"We are so thankful to World Subaru for partnering with The Valerie Fund on this event to benefit our Valerie Fund Children's Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders," said Eric Carney, President and CEO of Monmouth Medical Center and The Unterberg Children's Hospital. "Thanks to their generous support year after year, we can continue to ensure that families like the McLoones who are facing childhood cancer can continue to receive these services close to home while ensuring that the care is at the cutting edge."
Registration includes food, beverages, a t-shirt and race-day festivities. Same day registration will also be available on the Great Lawn located at 10 Ocean Avenue between Cooper and Madison Avenue beginning at 7:30. Those who wish to pre-register and avoid the lines can do so by going to the event website at www.thevaleriefund.org/World-Subaru .

After their nine-year-old daughter Valerie succumbed to cancer, founders Sue and Ed Goldstein were determined that no family should have to travel great distances to receive superior medical care. Along with a group of close friends, they began fundraising efforts from their living room---tireless work that would lead to the 1977 opening of New Jersey's first pediatric oncology facility at Summit Overlook's Hospital.
Forty years later, The Valerie Fund's mission remains that of supporting comprehensive health care for children battling cancer and blood disorders close to home treating 6000 children at seven hospital based centers throughout New Jersey and one in New York.
For more information, please contact Bunny Flanders, Director of Marketing and Communications at bflanders@thevaleriefund.org