The Manchester Township Police Department would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to everyone who helped make our first-ever 9 Run Run 5K and Color Fun Run, held on Saturday, April 18th at Manchester Township High School, such an incredible success! The energy and positivity from our runners, families, and all participants made for an unforgettable experience, and we are already looking forward to making next year’s event even bigger and better.
We would like to thank the Manchester Township School District for their unwavering support from the very beginning. Superintendent Diane Pedroza, Athletic Director Chris Hoffman, and Cross Country Coach Jason Griffith were fully invested from day one and played a vital role in bringing this event to life.
A sincere thank you to all of our sponsors: Manchester Township PBA, Royal Grill 37, Always Driven Apparel, Donovan’s Bar & Grill, Alliance Orthopedics, Cafe Napoli, Jimmy C’s Barber Shop, M. Sarama Builder, LLC., Pies On Nine, Gateway Toyota, A Simply Greener Side, and T&T Coast Buick GMC, Slice House, Curry Electric, Siragusa Construction, DeMac Concrete, Brigantine PBA 204, Team Gatstige, and Emerald Garden Apartments.
Our Touch-A-Truck portion of the event was a huge hit, and we extend our appreciation to the Manchester Township Volunteer Fire Company, Ridgeway Fire Company, and Whiting Volunteer Fire Company for proudly displaying their apparatus and supporting our community.
We also thank the Manchester Township Division of Emergency Services for providing a standby crew and ensuring the safety of all attendees. Additional thanks to the Ocean County Regional SWAT Team for providing security and showcasing their equipment, as well as the Ocean County Sheriff’s Department K9 Unit (K9 Fiona and Handler Sheriff’s Officer Christine Cassulo) and Drone Unit for their support throughout the event. The Sheriff’s Department also brought out their impressive Sherp, which was a crowd favorite.
We are incredibly grateful to all of our volunteers, including students from the Manchester Township School District National Honor Society, Boy Scout Troop 441, and our Cross Country runners, who dedicated their time to help make this event run smoothly.
Thank you to Councilwoman Sandy Drake and her team for running an outstanding gift auction and 50/50 raffle. Thank you to Sgt. Keith Craig for serving as our DJ and keeping the energy high throughout the event. We also appreciate the support of our local officials, including Mayor Joseph Hankins and Commissioner Robert Arace, for taking the time to attend and support this community event.
A special thank you to all of our vendors who provided great food and refreshments for our attendees. Thank You to Thompson Chiropractic who stretched out our runners before their race and Barnyard Petz with their petting zoo. We’d also like to thank several businesses who donated for our gift raffle: Playa Bowls, Dunkin, Tronix, TR Fitness, Jetty Inc., The NY Giants, the NY Jets, the NY Red Bulls, and the Philadelphia Eagles.
Finally, we would like to recognize Chief Antonio Ellis for supporting our Race Committee every step of the way. What began as a simple idea grew into a successful and meaningful community event thanks to the dedication of our planning committee: Sgt. Adam Emmons, PST Kaitlin Hill, Ptl. Chris Kimbiz, and PST Blayne LaValle. Since October 2025, these four have worked tirelessly to plan every detail and bring this vision to life. We also thank Chief Ellis for being a great sport and participating in the dunk tank, which was another crowd favorite.
This event was more than just a great day—it was a fundraiser for the Manchester Police Foundation. Proceeds from this event will help support the Police Unity Tour and our Dispatch Center. Additionally, these funds help support our Dispatch Center—the heart of our organization. Their role is critical, and we are proud to support them through events like this.
This event was truly a team effort and a great example of what can be accomplished when a community comes together. We hope to see you all again next year!