Community Corner

Oxford Ready for Memorial Day 5K Freedom Run

People are encouraged to participate in this fun, patriotic event.

 

Hundreds of area runners, walkers and children looking for fun will team up with local and state veterans to participate in the fourth-annual Memorial Day 5K Freedom Run on Monday, May 28.

Several people have already signed up for the annual race and more runners, walkers and/or volunteers are welcome, said local attorney Fran Teodosio, who organizes the event with a committee of dedicated volunteers.

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The race, which will begin at 8 a.m., starts at the Stephen B. Church Memorial  486 Oxford Road, Oxford, and goes south on Route 67 to the Pleasant Valley Shopping Center and back to Town Hall. The course has been USATF certified. All net proceeds will go to our own members of the active and veteran military.

Specifically, money raised goes toward the in Oxford, which also volunteers for the event along with several other civic organizations and many community members. This year, the Freedom Run Committee has voted to donate the first $500 of net proceeds from the event to the Valley Community Foundation. The foundation will match this contribution and add a total of $1,000 to the fund, which it oversees to restore plaques that were stolen from the three veterans' memorials in Derby, Shelton and Ansonia, Teodosio said.

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Walkers who wish to participate can join a two-mile fitness walk. The cost to participate in the run or walk is $25 per person. Veterans and active military personnel may participate for free. Wheelchairs and Baby Joggers are also welcome.

The first 500 registrants will receive a commemorative race T-shirt. Prizes will be awarded in various categories. Due to its overwhelming popularity, the Kids Rock Hopper Fun Run, led by the penguin race mascot, will once again be run. Children ages 5-to-12 will run from the Town Hall to  and back for a total of a half-mile. 

The Rock Hopper Fun Run registration fee is $10 and the children will receive T-shirts sponsored by Naugatuck Valley Savings & Loan. 

To register:  go to fasttracktiming.com and register online.  For more info please go to the official race website:  5kfreedomrun.com or  you may feel free to call the Oxford Parks and Recreation office at 203-888-2543, Ext 3041. Vets and Active Military personnel must call the Parks and Rec office to register.

After the race, people are encouraged to hang around for the always exciting, annual Oxford Memorial Day Parade.

"What a great way to spend the morning with your family as we honor those who gave so much for our freedom," said Deb Gatto, Oxford Parks and Rec director. 

Naugatuck Valley Savings & Loan

Spectra Energy

Oxford Parks and Rec

Oxford Paint & Hardware

Oxford Liquor Shoppe

Welch, Teodosio, Stanek and Blake, LLC., attorneys at law

Nafis & Young Civil/Environmental Engineer & Surveying

Oxford Town Clerk Margaret A. West

121 Restaurant & Bar

Attorney Matt Reale

Attorney George Temple (who is also Oxford’s first selectman)

Law Offices of Steven M. Reilly

Miller-Ward Funeral Home

New England Septic & Excavating

Oxford Oil Company

Oxford Pharmacy

Rose’s Family Restaurant

Southbury School of Performing Arts

Universal Precast

Giordano’s Heating & Air Conditioning Co.

J. Nicholas Anderson

Seymour Electric

Extreme Bucket List

Phoenix Propane

Nardelli’s Grinder Shoppe

Robert Petinella Select Real Estate

Patch Media Corp.

H-10,O water company

Poland Spring Natural Spring Water

River Glen Health Care Center

Connecticut State Police

Rich Farm ice cream

* Several other local civic organizations such as the David S. Miles American Legion Post 146 and the Oxford Lions Club are also heavily involved in the event and have donated toward it.   

** See T-shirts designs from the event attached to this article as PDFs. 


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