The Chatham Turkey Trot

On Saturday, April 18, 2026 St. Joseph will celebrate our 40th Anniversary and the 40th consecutive year of our Soup Kitchen program with a community walk from The Parish Community of St. Helen in Westfield, NJ to St. Joseph Social Service Center in Elizabeth, NJ. The Camino de St. Joseph is modeled after the European pilgrimage Camino de Santiago and there are several ways to participate in the event.

Ways to Participate

Pray with Us

Join us for Mass at The Parish Community of St. Helen, 1600 Rahway Ave, Westfield, NJ 07090

Time: 9:00 A.M.

Walk with Us

There are 3 options to join the walk:

• 9-mile walk: This option is the full walk and begins at The Parish Community of St. Helen in Westfield. This option may take approximately 3.5 - 4 hours with stops at St. John the Apostle in Clark and Warinano Sports Center in Roselle. Check-in for the 9-mile walk begins at 9:15AM. *If you will be joining Mass and joining the 9-mile walk, please feel free to check-in for the walk at 8:30AM.

• 6-mile walk: This option allows participants to join the walk at St. John's and it may take 2.5 hours. Check-in for the 6-mile begins at 10:30AM.

• 3-mile walk: This option allows participants to join the walk at Warinanco Sports Center which will take approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes. Check-in for the 3-mile walk begins at 11:15AM.

Break Bread with Us

Location: St. Joseph Social Service Center, 118 Division St. Elizabeth

Time: approximately 2:00 P.M. - 3:00 P.M.

Donate Food

Each starting point will also serve as a food donation site if you are interested in donating non-perishable food items. Currently, our urgent needs include 1 lb bags of rice, boxed pasta, plastic jars of pasta sauce, assorted boxed cereal, canned and dry black beans, and shelf-stable milk.

Donate Funds

Please consider making a monetary donation to support our work. You can donate via RunSignUp at the top right of this page, visit our website at https://www.sjeliz.org/donate-online.html, or mail a check to St. Joseph Social Service Center 118 Division St. Elizabeth NJ 07201.

The Camino de St. Joseph represents more than a path. It represents a journey of hope, stability, and community. When you give, you walk with families facing hardship. You help place food on tables, provide warm clothing, assist with life-saving medications, and connect individuals to vital social services. Every gift, at every level, strengthens this path. Thank you for always supporting St. Joseph Social Service Center's mission.

Who We Are: Healthy Kids Running Series is a five (5) week running program in the spring and fall for kids Pre-K through 8th grade. Each HKRS Series takes place once a week and offers age-appropriate running events including the 50 & 75 yard dashes, the 1/4 mile, the 1/2 mile and the 1 mile run. Kids will earn points for each race they complete based on their finish.

Pricing: The registration fee covers the entire five (5) weeks of the Series which includes race bibs for each week, a runner shirt, a finisher medal and any sponsor giveaways. Registration is non-refundable and non-transferable. Online Early Bird registration increases three weeks prior to the first race event.

Challenger: This Series offers a Challenger Division which is an adaptive 75 yard race for children with disabilities and/or special needs. This allows for parents, siblings, and friends to be on the course with runners to provide support as well as bringing their own supportive devices such as crutches, braces, wheelchairs, etc. to be used by runners.

Single Day Racing: Single day race registration opens one hour prior to the start of each race. The registration fee covers one single race to be run on the day of registration. ALL single day registrations should be completed onsite at the race location. Single day racers will have the option to upgrade to the full series (see tab on the left side of the page for instructions). There is a strict no-refund and no-transfer policy.

Awards: All participants receive a medal on Week 5! Trophies will be awarded to the overall top finishers in each of the divisions listed below (broken out by boys and girls respectively):

Pre-K 50 Yard Dash

Pre-K 75 Yard Dash

Kindergarten & 1st Grade

2nd & 3rd Grade

4th & 5th Grade

6th to 8th Grade

Challenger

Share your running photos with our community! Find us on Facebook @HealthyKidsRunning or Instagram @healthykidsrs!

#GetUpandGo

A chip-timed 5K through Summit for participants of all ages and abilities to walk or run in honor of someone impacted by cancer, to remember loved ones, and to celebrate the legacies that inspire us to keep moving forward.

Proceeds from the Love and Legacy 5K directly support LIVESTRONG® at the YMCA, a free program that helps cancer survivors regain strength, confidence, and connection.

RACE DAY SCHEDULE

Sunday, May 3, 2026

Location: Summit YMCA, Maple Street

7:30 – 8:15 AM – Race Day Registration & Check-In

8:15 – 8:29 AM – Announcements & Pre-Race Warm-Up

8:30 AM – Official 5K Start

9:30 AM – Awards Ceremony

FAMILY FUN FAIR - 8:30 A.M. - RAIN or SHINE!!

Enjoy games, face painting, tattoos, crafts, and MORE! These events will take place during and immediately following the 5K.

KIDS DASH - 10:00 A.M. *Subject to slight delay based on event flow.

A special race just for the smaller kids! This shorter course will be held on the Village Green grass. To keep things safe and fun, we’ll organize participants into smaller age-level heats based on the total number of children registered or for those who created their very own Kids Dash Team. After their first run, runners will be grouped again with peers of similar speed for a second dash so everyone gets another chance to race, cheer, and have fun. All participants receive their own race bib and a medal.

LOVE AND LEGACY TREE

Let's honor those who have made a lasting impact in our lives. Bring a photo, drawing, painting, or other memento to hang on our dedicated tree in tribute to your loved one(s).

RACE SHIRTS

Register by April 8 to receive an official Love and Legacy 5K shirt! No extra shirts will be available after this date.

RACE PACKET PICK-UP

Thursday, April 30 4-6:45pm at Fleet Feet 355 Springfield Ave, Summit, NJ 07901

TBA at Berkeley Heights YMCA 59 Locust Ave, Berkeley Heights, NJ 07922

COURSE RULES

Strollers are allowed, please be mindful of fellow runners and allow others to pass freely.

Dogs are not permitted on the course due to USATF regulations, but they’re welcome to cheer from the sidelines!

AWARDS & MEDALS

Top Finishers: Awards for the top overall male & female finishers

Age Group Winners: Awards for the top male & female in each age category:

9 & Under

10 – 14

15 – 19

20 – 29

30 – 39

40 – 49

50 – 59

60 – 69

70 & Above

**IMPORTANT INFO

Rain or Shine! The race will take place regardless of weather conditions. However, the Family Fun Fair may be canceled if conditions are unsafe.

Stay Updated: Any weather-related updates will be sent via email—please check your inbox before race day!

No Refunds: Registration fees are non-refundable, even in the event of cancellations.

The 23rd annual Madison MEF 5K Race will be held on Sunday, May 3, 2026. We are excited to have a NEW COURSE this year, which will start on the Madison High School (MHS) track, go through the Madison Recreation Complex (MRC), and include a short trail section around the Madison Community Garden. The new course will showcase the updated MHS track and turf field, the new MRC solar panels, and other recent improvements to our high school and grounds!

Register by April 7th to ensure you have a chance to order a t-shirt!

Race Day Registration will be available.

Packet Pickup - Friday 5/1 and Saturday 5/2 at Alfred's Sport Shop (32 Main Street, Madison, NJ) and Sunday before the race at Madison High School.

Parking at Madison High School (170 Ridgedale Avenue) in the tennis court lot will be accessible until approximately 8:40 AM. There will be no parking at the MRC (Madison Recreation Complex).

Race Times are 9:00am (5K), 10:00am (Kids Fun Runs at MHS Track).

Proceeds from this event will support teacher-initiated grants at all five Madison public schools.

*Please note that it may be difficult to bring strollers on the trail portion of the course. Trail running shoes are not needed.

*The MEF will cover the registration fee for students and families with financial need. For more information, please contact the student’s principal. All requests will be kept confidential.

We have 2 events to register and some combo packages:

1. 5K Run/Walk Race for all ages. Race starts at 9am. $45; 18 years old and under is $35

2. Kids Fun Run for kids 10 and under only. Race starts at 10:00am. $25

3. Kids 2 Race Package 5K + Kids Fun Run for kids 10 and under only - Best Deal! Entry for both the 5K (9am) and the Kids Fun Run (10am): $40

4. Family Pricing (Multi-Person Pricing) is also available for 4-6 registrants at $135. This can be a combination of the 5K, Kids Fun Run. This will be effective once more than 3 participants have been added.

For more information, go to www.mefnj.org/madison-5k/