Freaky 5K is set for Sunday

The John Theissen Children’s Foundation will hold the annual Freaky 5K run and walk on Sunday, Oct. 23. 

The race starts and ends behind the foundation’s Family Fun Center, at 1881 Wantagh Ave. (next to Hemingway’s American Bar & Grill). Runners and walkers alike will take off at 8:30 a.m. on what Theissen said is a fast and flat course. 

“This is both a competitive and non-competitive event,” Theissen said on the JTCF Facebook page. “There will be runners, joggers and plenty of walkers just out for a nice fall morning stroll.”

The event also features the Trick-or-Treat Trot — a quarter mile race for children 10 and under, beginning at 8 a.m. Participants in both races are encouraged to embrace the Halloween spirit and run in-costume. 

All runners and walkers who sign up for the 5K by Oct. 21 will pay a $20 registration fee; the day-of-race price is $25. The participation cost for the Trick-or-Treat Trot is $7 per child. 

Proceeds collected from the race will benefit the JTCF, which Theissen, of Wantagh, founded in 1992. Inspired by his experiences in the hospital, the group’s initial goal was to bring toys to sick and underprivileged children in medical and childcare facilities.

When Theissen was 17, he found out he had a brain tumor. During his hospitalization stay, he befriended a young girl named Tasha who lacked a strong support system and rarely had visitors. 

The Theissen family cared for Tasha and accompanied her to the yearly children’s hospital holiday party, even though John couldn’t attend because of his own illness. During the party, Tasha used her one request to Santa Claus on John; she wished that he had a teddy bear. 

Her generous spirit was the inspiration behind the foundation. Since 1992, the JTCF has collected more than 920,000 new toys, in addition to contributing therapeutic and recreational equipment to children in need.

Members of the organization said they were grateful for the Wantagh, Seaford and surrounding communities’ support of fundraisers like the Freaky 5K. All children who participate in the Trick-or-Treat Trot will receive a medal and goody bag, and the first 700 registrants for the 5K will be given long-sleeved running shirts. 

The top male and female finishers will each receive a $250 prize; second-place finishers win $200 and third-place runners will get $150. There are $100 bonuses for the top male runner finishing in less than 16 minutes and the top female runner finishing in less than 18 minutes as well. 

Medals will be given out to the top five finishers in each of more than a dozen age groups, ranging from 14-and-under to 80-and-older. The top three finishers in the wheelchair division will also receive medals, according to JCTF. 

Attendees also have the chance to win dozens of prizes, including iPads, iPods, concert tickets, gaming systems and more. Participants’ entry in the raffle is included in the price of registration. 

For a registration flyer, visit www.jtcf.org. For more information, call Theissen at (516) 679-5098 or email john@jtcf.org.