BEGIN:VCALENDAR PRODID;X-RICAL-TZSOURCE=TZINFO:-//com.denhaven2/NONSGML ri_cal gem//EN CALSCALE:GREGORIAN VERSION:2.0 BEGIN:VEVENT DESCRIPTION:In a Press Release from FreeWalkersJoin the 3rd Annual &ldqu o\;Big Walk&rdquo\; from Metropark to New York City on Saturday\, May 1 9th\, 2012. \; Paul Kiczek\, founder of FreeWalkers.org\, and resid ent of Morristown\, NJ\, plans to continue the annual tradition of walk ing 50 miles in one day through thesuburban and urban wilds of New Jers ey and into New York City. \; With the support of the East Coast Gr eenway Alliance (ECG)\, he will be leading 50 or more long distance wal kers\, on this year&rsquo\;s event (http://NJ2NY50.org).\nWalking is a g reat form of exercise for everyone. \; The FreeWalkers encourage ev eryone to challenge themselves and just get out and walk to the best of their ability. \; Mass events bring attention to walking and promo te an awareness of issues such as designing safe streets andplanning co mmunities that encourage walking. \; This is the third event in a s eries of walks called the Cross‐Jersey Challenge (http://crossjerseyw alk.org) in which the public is challenged to walk a total of 100 miles across the entire state along the East Coast Greenway in 2012.\nThe EC G (http://greenway.org) is a non‐profit organization that is mapping out a continuous 3\,000 mile trail from Maine to Key West\, through pop ulated areas along the U.S. East Coast\, such as New Jersey and New Yor k. \; The organization promotes a multi‐use marked trail for walk ing\, running\, and biking and is open to the public. \; It provides a rare ground‐level view of today&rsquo\;s communities andtheir chal lenges for pedestrians. \; This year the walk will go thru the newl y renovated Lenape Park trail in the Cranford/Kenilworth area\, hailed as one of the best in the Union County Park System. \; This will ac tually be Kiczek&rsquo\;s fifth attempt at 50 miles. \; His interes t started in 1963 when he and three of his high school friends\, encour aged by a fitness fad promoted by President Kennedy\, madean unsuccessf ul attempt at 50 miles in the summer of 1963.\nMuch time has passed but only in the last few years has he revisited the challenge and found oth ers interested too. \; Soon\, the FreeWalkers group was born\, dedi cated to the challenges and rewards of long distance walking. \; Ac cording to Kiczek\, &ldquo\;Long‐distance walking is a unique sport a nd challenge. \; Our walk is not a racebut a challenge to learn\, pe rsevere\, socialize and achieve a substantial personal goal.&rdquo\;&nbs p\; The trail runsclose to mass transportation allowing participants to join in or drop off at various places if they prefer to walk less than 50 miles. \; The event is FREE\, there&rsquo\;s a chance to win a drawing prize and even a personalized dog tag for all that participate\ , regardless of the number of miles they walk. \; For more details visit (http://NJ2NY50.org). Kiczek says\, &ldquo\;We hope that the even t brings public awareness of the benefits of walking and the importance of constructing pedestrian highways like the East Coast Greenway.&rdqu o\; URL:http://scotchplains.patch.com/events/freewalkers-invite-public-to-wal k-the-big-walk-register-now SUMMARY:FreeWalkers Invite Public to Walk “The Big Walk” - Register N ow LOCATION:Metropark\, Iselin\, NJ: Metropark\, Iselin\, NJ END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR