Bergen County family again leading the pack toward NJCTS’ $50,000 goal heading into second annual race Nov. 19 at Borough Park in Mendham.
Conrad, Laurie and Dean Roncati were responsible for a sizeable amount of the financial success of last year’s inaugural New Jersey Walks for TS event in Mendham, raising nearly $4,000 of the $27,000 collected to benefit the New Jersey Center for Tourette Syndrome & Associated Disorders (NJCTS).
As the second annual installment of the New Jersey Walks for TS – to take place rain or shine on Saturday, Nov. 19, at Mendham’s Borough Park – draws near, the Roncati family once again is heading up the donation charge.
As of Nov. 2, the Roncati’s had raised $4,385 and have high hopes of bringing in even more to help inch NJCTS closer to its goal of $50,000 as the big day closes in.
“We’ve been making rounds of family, friends and anyone we can get our hands on,” said Conrad Roncati, the chairman of this year’s event and the father of Dean, who has Tourette Syndrome.
“It’s all about pressure,’’ Conrad Roncati added, laughing, before more seriously saying, “It’s really all about e-mailing people. Parents should be using their personal e-mail lists to help get people on board and spread the word.”
Dean, who along with his mother, Laurie, will participate in the 5K family walk/fun run, also is playing a significant role, talking to case managers and faculty at school and inviting friends through social media such as Facebook.
“A lot of my friends know, and they are getting their parents to know,” said Dean, who is a teen co-chair – along with Emily Carrara of Mendham – this year. “It’s going really well.”
This year’s New Jersey Walks for TS in Mendham will kick off with registration and stretching at 9:30 a.m., followed by the walk/fun run at 10 a.m. Both individuals and teams can register by visiting http://www.active.com/donate/MendhamWalksForTS, and prizes will be awarded for the best team banner, best hat and the top individual and team fundraisers.
The Roncati’s have a pretty good head start, so anyone wishing to catch them for the fundraising crown needs to act now. Click here to print the Mendham Walks for TS sponsorship letter. Share it with friends and family, and don’t forget to bring it to work, the gym, houses of worship and other popular locations.
There are other ways to help bolster the event, which will help aid NJCTS’ efforts to support the 28,000 kids and families across the Garden State who live with TS and for those about to start off on the journey of living with this neurological disorder. Anyone can:
- Start a team and recruit friends and family to walk, too
- Reach out to personal networks or corporations to gain pledges
- Make this part of a child or teen’s service requirement for school or religious education
- Post a link to http://www.active.com/donate/MendhamWalksForTS on Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr or other social media platforms.
The New Jersey Walks for TS in Mendham also promises to be a fun event for the entire family, with more than just walking and running in store. There will be music, jugglers, balloons and even a mime on hand to provide entertainment.
Don’t wait another minute to register and participate in what is shaping up to be a great day for a great cause. Sign up today.
More information is available by calling NJCTS at 908-575-7350, by visiting www.njcts.org or by visiting http://www.active.com/donate/MendhamWalksForTS.