Johnnie's Run Set for Dec. 1 at the Smithville Inn

This year’s Johnnie’s Run will take place Dec. 1, and will benefit seven-year-old Sam Hornikel, of Egg Harbor Township, Deputy Mayor Tony Coppola announced during Monday’s council meeting at the municipal complex.

The 15th annual run begins at 11:30 a.m. at the Smithville Inn.

Hornikel was diagnosed with rhabdomyosarcoma, a rare form of bladder and prostate cancer, in June of 2008.

He is a patient at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), where he’s undergone a year of intense chemotherapy. He also had two major surgeries, including reconstructive bladder surgery in 2012. He’s scheduled for another operation in a couple months.

The Slaybaugh Elementary School second grader enjoys playing soccer and riding his bicycle.

Johnnie's Run is an annual 5K and 1-mile run dedicated to Johnnie Bieniakowski, of Galloway Township, who was born with Down Syndrome and contracted Lymphocytic Leukemia when he was 4 years old.

The run is held to bring attention to Children's Leukemia and Down Syndrome, and to provide financial and moral support to the families battling children's illness. Portions of the proceeds annually go to the Friends of Trisomy 21 Center, the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and the ARC of Atlantic County.

Members of the U.S. Coast Guard, and local fire, police and rescue personnel departments will participate in the run.

The top three finishers will win cash prizes.

Organizers are still seeking sponsors and runners.

For more information, contact Tom Balmer, Galloway Township Police Athletic League at P.O. Box 726, Absecon, NJ.  

He can be reached by phone at 609-226-1002, fax at 609-266-2009 or  e-mail at  trbalmer@msn.com.