MANCHESTER – It ran for the first time but the township police department and PBA’s Unity Tour 5 Kilometer Run and Color Run fundraiser just may become an annual event.
This latest fundraiser started at 9 a.m. with a 5K run while the Color Run began an hour later. It was held on the grounds of the township’s high school. Beyond the two running events there was a touch a truck attraction, food vendors and a petting zoo. It also included a trophy presentation.
Ocean County Sheriff’s Officer Davies Adepoju Office took top honors at the 5K portion of the event coming in to win first place with the support of his colleagues and family members along the course.
He secured the victory during the community race, marking a standout performance in the popular local event. Making his way through the course, Adepoju received plenty of loud cheers from his fellow officers, friends and supporters.
Police Chief Antonio Ellis was there supporting his officers and was pleased with the turnout. School Superintendent Diane Pedroza was there as well enjoying all the activities.
“We had about 200 runners between the two runs,” Chief Ellis remarked at the scene. “This is the first one that we have done. We got some great feedback and we received a lot of help from the Board of Education and the high school which made it all possible,” the chief added.
He added, “we had a lot of student volunteers for this as well and the emergency services were here for the touch a truck and they helped out.”
“The proceeds go toward the Unity Tour and for Dispatcher Awareness. This was a collaboration between the Police Foundation, the police officers who are doing the unity tour and the dispatchers, they are the one who came up with Nine One Run. We are finishing up the Telecommunicators Awareness Week so this was a nice culmination to that week of acknowledging our telecommunicators and all they do,” the chief said. “We have some drone footage from this and we had one of the students filming everything and it will all be put together.”
The township police department have been holding a number of fundraisers for their participation in this year’s Police Unity Tour. “In total we need to raise $2,200 per rider,” the chief said.
The history of the Police Unity Tour began in 1997 in Florham Park when Police Officer Patrick Montuore came up with the idea to organize a four-day bicycle ride from New Jersey to Washington, D.C. The event would raise public awareness about law enforcement officers who have died in the line of duty.
Montuore wanted to make sure that that their sacrifice would never be forgotten and so the Police Unity Tour was formed. What began as an event with 18 riders has grown over time into eight chapters consisting of nearly 2,100 members nationwide who make the trip annually. Participants include riders, motorcycles, and support personnel.
Ellis remarked that the journey is long and challenging for those who participate in it. “They prepare for it throughout the year. Through fundraising and physical training, their efforts raise awareness of the ultimate sacrifice made by law enforcement officers.”
The township’s Police Unity Tour team will conclude their journey at the Memorial where the riders are greeted by friends, family, and survivors. Once there, many Police Unity Tour riders present remembrance bracelets worn on their wrists throughout the journey to the families of the fallen.
Two years ago, the Police Unity Tour donated $2.2 million to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund which brought the amount of total donations to more than $37.5 million since its inception.
The Police Unity Tour is the sponsor of the National Law Enforcement Museum’s Hall of Remembrance, the Memorial Fund’s Officer of the Month Award, and other special programs.
The chief noted that support fundraisers for the Police Unity Tour fundraisers marking this year’s 30th anniversary ride have all been successful. They included a Bingo night, an event in cooperation with the Burger 25 in Brick Township that provided 25% of what they collected that day to the unity team, and an event that involved Royal Grill 37 in Toms River that also provided 25% of all sales to the Manchester Township Police Foundation to support the tour.
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