Thursday, October 1, 2026
Runners and walkers filled Wantagh streets for the John Theissen Children’s Foundation’s annual Freaky 5K on Oct. 26.
The event, which started and ended in the Town of Hempstead parking lot on Wantagh Avenue, blended fitness with festive fun as participants dressed in Halloween costumes ranging from superheroes to spooky creatures. Families joined in the fun run before the main 5K, with many competing for costume prizes in different age groups. Medals were awarded to top finishers in several divisions, including masters and wheelchair participants.
Hosted by foundation founder John Theissen, the race has become a fall tradition in Wantagh. Proceeds help support the foundation’s mission of assisting sick and underprivileged children across Long Island.
Last year, the foundation celebrated the grand opening of its new Family Fun Center on Wantagh Avenue, which offers free parties and entertainment for children facing illness or financial hardship. The facility includes an arcade, arts and crafts area, movie theater, and a “wish room” filled with donated toys for kids to take home.
Theissen, a Wantagh native, founded the organization in 1992 after recovering from a brain tumor as a teenager. Inspired by a young hospital patient’s kindness, he began collecting toys for children in need — and has since distributed more than a million gifts to hospitals and child care facilities.
Participants at this year’s Freaky 5K received commemorative shirts and enjoyed refreshments after crossing the finish line. Free race photos were made available online through Long Island Running Photos.
For more information about the foundation or upcoming events, visit jtcf.org.
