Petrella family hopes for another run in the sun Annual 'Run for a Memory' scheduled for June 9 BY JENNIFER KOHLHEPP Staff Writer Runners line up for last year's "Run for a Memory" 5K. The event is held annually in Millstone Township in honor of John W. Petrella. MILLSTONE - Shirley Petrella hopes the sunlight will once again shine down on her family's "Run for a Memory" this year. Slated for June 9 at the Millstone Township Elementary School, the 5K helps the Petrellas raise funds for the John W. Petrella Jr. Scholarship Foundation. The family established the foundation to help classified students in the community in honor of their son, John Jr., who passed away unexpectedly in October 2003 at the age of 16. The Petrellas held their first 5K last year, which Shirley, John Jr.'s mother, recalled as "great" and "a lot of fun." "It was a beautiful day," she recalled. "We hope to have another good day like that this year." Last year, 100 people entered the race. Actually, Petrella said, running the 3.2-mile untimed course is not required, and many jogged, power walked, pushed baby carriages and walked their pets. The Petrellas decided to create the family-oriented event last year in order to help continue to raise funds for their foundation and to further honor the memory of their son, who loved to walk throughout the community. "John would walk everywhere because he loved to stop and talk to people," Petrella said. "A lot of people knew him, and a lot of people loved him." After John Jr.'s passing, the Petrellas knew they wanted a longer-lasting tribute to their son than flowers. Jim Fisher, of Millstone, who owns and operates Fisher Capital in Cranbury, helped the family organize the scholarship foundation. Over the years, friends, family and community members have contributed to the foundation. Earlier this year, the Millstone Charity Gala helped the Petrellas raise $16,500 for the foundation. "I would just like to thank Gary Mangino and the Millstone Charity Gala Committee again for the wonderful donation it made to our fund in our son's name," she said. The family has used the foundation to contribute money to the Transitions Classroom program at the Allentown High School Imlaystown campus. The foundation has also provided to the KIVA High School, a vocational school located in Tinton Falls, Monmouth County. In addition, the Petrellas have used the fund to provide scholarships to deserving Allentown High School seniors, as well as merit awards, including gift certificates, to area eighth-graders. "Run for a Memory" has an entry fee of $20 and includes a free T-shirt. Entry forms are available at Millstone Township's municipal building on Route 524 in the Clarksburg section of town, Allentown High School in Allentown, and the PNC Bank located on the corner of Millstone Road and Route 33. The run will begin at the school at 9 a.m. this year. For more information about the scholarship fund or the "Run for a Memory" event, contact the Petrella family at oursonsmemory@aol.com.