CITY CHALLENGE OBSTACLE RACE: Mayor Zimmer to Participate in Competition, Raising Awareness for Big Brothers Big Sisters

(via City Challenge)

The City of Hoboken recently announced that it will partner with Hoboken residents Elvi Guzman, Founder of City Challenge Obstacle Race and Carlos Lejnieks, CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Essex, Hudson & Union Counties for the upcoming City Challenge Obstacle Race on October 1, 2016 to help raise funds and awareness for Big Brothers Big Sisters. For the fourth consecutive year, Hoboken’s picturesque waterfront will be transformed into a 3-mile urban obstacle course: challenges include jumping over police cars, climbing walls, monkey bars, a 12 ft. rope climb, sand bag carry, water jugs, a 30-foot cargo net and more!

Hoboken Mayor Dawn Zimmer has agreed to serve as the Race’s Grand Marshall, and will also “take up the challenge” as a participant. “I’m delighted to play a leading role in this event to help such an important cause,” says Mayor Zimmer. “Learning to face, and overcome obstacles is essential to life, and Big Brothers Big Sisters and their mentors are helping young people develop the tools they’ll need to meet future challenges—whatever they are—successfully.”

The mission of City Challenge Obstacle Race is to enable participants of all fitness levels to push through physical and mental limits, while having a great time with friends, family, and colleagues. Voted the “#1 Obstacle Race guaranteed to make you fit, healthy and happy” by BuzzFeed, City Challenge has become increasingly popular since its 2013 debut in Hoboken. The events are held in dynamic cities throughout the United States including Hoboken, Jersey City, New York (Randall’s Island), Miami and Orlando, Florida; challengers get to run through city streets while attempting to conquer challenging obstacles against the backdrop of some of the nation’s most amazing skylines.

For City Challenge Race founder Elvi Guzman, who grew up in Perth Amboy and currently lives in Hoboken, the Race is about finding unique ways to make fitness fun, but also serves to help support local charities who are making a real difference in the community. Since City Challenge’s inception, the organization has raised thousands of dollars for local charities including Susan G. Komen North Jersey, The Wounded Warrior Project, Jersey City Youth Foundation, and the Hoboken Shelter. This year’s beneficiary, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Essex, Hudson & Union Counties, was also a charitable partner in 2015.

“Muhammad Ali said that ‘champions aren’t made in the gym’,” says Guzman. “They are made from something they have deep inside of them; a desire, a dream, a vision. I was a ‘BIG’ for a 13-year old boy from Jersey City, and I know from first-hand experience what having a big brother or big sister in their lives can mean to some of these young people. The mentoring program helps kids find that ‘something’ inside themselves… that certain something that gives them the confidence to explore their potential and realize that they CAN be champions.”

Big Brothers Big Sisters is the oldest, largest and most effective youth mentoring organization in the United States, the leader in one-to-one youth service for more than a century. Its mission is to develop positive relationships that have a direct and lasting effect on the lives of young people by helping children (age 6-18) reach their potential through professionally supported, one-to-one relationships with measurable impact. Guzman has made a firm commitment to direct a percentage of all registration and sponsor fees from the Hoboken Race to Big Brothers Big Sisters this year, in addition to providing a means for participants to make online donations. He is also providing the organization with a complimentary custom tent and promoted “presence” at the Race so that interested participants and attendees can learn more about becoming mentors and hopefully sign up to be “BIGS.”

“We are grateful to have the support of Mayor Zimmer, the City of Hoboken, and City Challenge Obstacle Race and are very excited about this partnership,” says Carlos Lejnieks, Chief Executive Officer of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Essex, Hudson and Union Counties. “We do need funds to run our programs, but we also need to get the word out about how important it is to recruit ‘BIGS’ for our littles. There are so many kids out there who really need someone they can look up to, someone who can be a role model and teach them how to navigate the challenges they face and encourage them to live up to their potential.”

City Challenge Obstacle Race
Saturday, October 1, 2016
8:30am – 2:00pm
100 Sinatra Drive, Hoboken, NJ US 07030

For more information, to register, or donate to Big Brothers Big Sisters: www.citychallengerace.com.
Email: info@citychallengerace.com
Telephone: 201-659-3873