Register Now For Verizon Wireless Corporate 5K Race In Morristown

Proceeds to Benefit Jersey Battered Women’s Service.

BASKING RIDGE, NJ — With less than two weeks until the 4th annual Verizon Wireless 5K Corporate Classic, it’s time for runners and walkers to register for Morris County’s largest fitness event of the season. The race will be held on Thursday, July 16, 2009, at 7:30 p.m. in downtown Morristown with proceeds benefiting Jersey Battered Women’s Service.

The Verizon Wireless Corporate Classic is open to corporate teams, as well as individual runners and walkers, including students, area residents and their friends and families. Interested participants may register online at www.verizonwirelessclassic.com or call 973-898-9386.

Again this year, pre-race registration may reach the event’s limit of 4,000 participants. Once the limit is reached, registration will be closed and entries will not be taken. “This has just become one of the most popular fitness events in the state,” said Mark Monteyne, head coach at Verizon.

If the event does not reach capacity before race day, online registration will close on Monday, July 13, and individuals may register in person through Wednesday, July 15, at the Morristown Running Company, 31 South St., Morristown. Race-day entries will be accepted, if capacity has not been reached, at the race site, Pioneer Park of Headquarters Plaza, between noon and 6:00 p.m.

“Summer fitness doesn’t get any better,” Monteyne said. “Racers will compete among the state’s fastest runners, and all participants will enjoy an evening of fun and camaraderie, complete with goodie bags, T-shirts and refreshments.”

Participants are encouraged to bring old, unused wireless phones to donate to the Verizon Wireless HopeLine® phone collection drive. Through its HopeLine program, the company recycles and donates no-longer-used wireless phones and service to victims and provides financial grants to non-profit domestic violence advocacy agencies. Phones, chargers and accessories from any service provider are accepted.

For the past 20 years, Morristown has hosted an annual footrace for employee teams from New Jersey corporations. Verizon Wireless has sponsored the race since 2006, as part of its commitment to employee health and wellness, with more than 1,000 Verizon employees participating each year. The company operates 30 in-house Wellness Centers throughout the country to provide Verizon Wireless employees with fitness equipment and health programs, including smoking cessation classes, aerobics, yoga classes, flu shots, mammography screenings and more.

Jersey Battered Women’s Service, beneficiary of the race, is a non-profit organization in Morris County that provides a range of life-saving and life-rebuilding services to victims of domestic violence and their families. Verizon Wireless’ main community service efforts focus on domestic violence education and prevention through the company’s HopeLine program.

Lexus, the official vehicle for the Verizon Wireless Corporate Classic, will provide the pace car for the race. The Morristown Running Company is providing support services and sponsoring the event’s T-shirts.