Amber Pizzo Foundation Holds 6th Annual Memorial 5K & Fitness Walk

Unfortunately, George Pizzo knows what its like to lose a child. 

The father of Amber Pizzo, a young teacher who died tragically in 2005 after being struck and killed by a drunk driver, Pizzo has been on a quest to help both teens and parents understand the dangers of drinking and driving.

"The simplest answer I can give is that when you lose a child it can destroy you," Pizzo said. "You reach a point and decide, 'am I going to allow it to destroy me?' or make something good come out of it?"

Thankfully Pizzo chose the latter as it appears there can never be an end to the benefit of spreading the word about the dangers of drinking and driving.

"If I can save just one life, its all worth it," Pizzo said Sunday before the start of the 6th Annual Memorial 5K & Fitness Walk at Memorial Field.

According to Pizzo, race participation has grown every year and is successful in raising money for educational programs to reduce the incidence of alcohol related fatalities in Union County and throughout the State. 

The race is a true community event, in which local businesses, such as Smith Chiropractic, The Sharing Network and others participate.

According to Pizzo, as the event has grown, the amount of net funds raised have diminished after event support is factored in. What does remain, however, funds annual scholarships to high school graduates who are planning to major in early childhood education.

"The community and the town have shown a lot of support," Pizzo said. "I am told that the runners like the race a lot. Many runners look forward to it every year."

Perhaps no runner enjoyed the race more than 20-year-old Dylan Marton of Somerville, who finished the race first overall with a speedy time of 17:00.01. The top female finisher was Jane Albright of Basking Ridge with a time of 19:34.59.  

"I'd say its a little more difficult than other courses," Marton said. "There's a big hill right in the middle and a little hill at the end that gets ya."

Marton, who runs for Moravian College in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, entered the race with four of his running buddies from high school.

Together they started the Wild Humans Running Club after running the woods near their homes "like wild men." 

Others who came out for the race included eight-year-old as Sean McMahon who is a member of the Happy Feet Club at Woodruff School.

His first complete 5k, McMahon finished in 29 minutes and 53 seconds, a time which he shared with his father Chuck.

"I thought it was fun," Sean McMahon said, beaming from his accomplishment.

After participants completed the race, they were greeted with refreshments, Italian Ice, spot chiropractic adjustments, a silent auction, and games for kids such as a bounce house.

It was all to the pleasure of Pizzo, who realized that the more participation his event receives the greater likelihood the awareness about his foundation can increase. 

"I have to remain cognizant that the job is not done that I have to keep going," Pizzo said. "The number of incidence of alcohol- related accidents in New Jersey is declining. I am not taking credit for that -- it's the efforts of a lot of people.

"The numbers I saw said that last year 180 people died from from alcohol-related accidents in NJ. That is down from 209 a year earlier. Our objective is to get that to zero because these fatalities are preventable."