Johnnie’s Run to benefit 7-year-old Ricky McAvaddy

Nov, 23-2009 10:41 am

GALLOWAY TOWNSHIP – It’s that time of year again: turkey dinners, football rivalries, the start of the holiday season and, for the 11th consecutive year, Johnnie’s Run, a benefit for children’s charities that give financial aid to the families of sick children.

Johnnie’s Run is an annual 5K and 1 mile fun run named in honor of 14-year-old Johnnie Bieniakowski of Galloway Township, who was born with Down syndrome and contracted lymphocytic leukemia at the age of 4.

This year’s event will start at 11:30 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 29 at Fred and Ethel’s Lantern Light Tavern in Historic Smithville.

The run was initially conceived to help the Bieniakowski family – John, a lieutenant in the Galloway Township police force, and Debbie, a registered nurse. It has continued throughout the past decade to help other families in need.  

This year’s run is dedicated to providing emotional and financial support to the family of Ricky McAvaddy, 7, of Mays Landing, who suffers from acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

He is undergoing in-patient chemotherapy and radiation treatments at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia with the love and support from his parents, Rick and Jamie, and sister Kate, 4.

Race directors Tom Balmer, Cormac Morrissey and Steve Mazur say they look upon the event as their opportunity to give back to the community.  

“We feel that we’ve been blessed in so many ways with family, health and good fortune,” Balmer said Friday, Nov. 20.

“We see this is our opportunity to help out children and their families who are truly in need.”  Morrissey said. “Throughout the years the community support has been outstanding, from all of our sponsors, volunteers, runners and the people who come out in support of our beneficiaries.”

To provide corporate sponsorship, make a financial contribution or participate in the run call (609) 652-5880, email  cormac@dixonassociates.com or see www.leaguelineup.com/johnniesrun.

Portions of run proceeds annually go to the Friends of Trisonomy 21 Center, the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and The Arc of Atlantic County. For information on Ricky McAvaddy see www.rickysrainbow.com.