The St. Patrick’s Day-themed ‘Johnny’s Jog for Charity’ 5K was held on Sunday, March 24, 2024, in West Hartford’s Blue Back Square.
Johnny’s Jog for Charity. March 24, 2024.. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
By Ronni Newton
Saturday’s torrential rain ended long before Johnny’s Jog for Charity kicked off in West Hartford’s Blue Back Square, but some of the puddles remained and were covered with a layer of ice on a frosty, blustery morning.
The chilly weather, however, did not diminish the spirit – or the crowd – that showed up to participate in the annual St. Patrick’s Day-themed charity 5K. Johnny’s Jog gear, including pompom-topped knit beanies and hoodie sweatshirts, were appropriate attire, turning Blue Back Square into a sea of green. There were about 1,300 registered to run in advance, and at least 100 more who showed up to register on Sunday morning, according to founder and organizer Laura Moran, not far from the record-setting 1,500 who showed up on a sunny and mild day in 2023.
“It’s amazing,” said Moran.
Johnny’s Jog for Charity. March 24, 2024.. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Festivities began at 9 a.m. and the 5K started at 10:30 a.m., starting and finishing in the same place on Isham Road in Blue Back Square.
Supporters of all ages came out to run or walk the 5K course through West Hartford’s neighborhoods, as well as to cheer, pose for photos with mascots Chompers (Yard Goats), Dillon (Hartford Athletic), and Homer (Miracle League of CT), and to enjoy entertainment in Blue Back Square before, during, and after the race. An after party and auction was held at Rockledge Grille after the race.
Johnny’s Jog for Charity. March 24, 2024.. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Participants could run for just the experience, but also had the option of being timed, and Tommy O’Gorman, 25, of West Hartford was the first to cross the finish line under an arch of green and white balloons, completing the race in an unofficial chip time of 16:11. Jacob Szalewicz, 17, of West Hartford was second, with a chip time of 17:32, and the third place finisher was Jordan Zinn, 42, also of West Hartford who finished with. chip time of 18:30.
Tommy O’Gorman of West Hartford was the winner of the Johnny’s Jog for Charity. March 24, 2024.. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Jacob Szalewicz finished in second place in the Johnny’s Jog for Charity. March 24, 2024.. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Jordan Zinn finished third in theJohnny’s Jog for Charity. March 24, 2024.. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Crossing the line in 11th place overall, in a time of 19:44, Jillian Agarwal of West Hartford was the first female finisher for the second year in a row.
Jillian Agarwal was the first female finisher. Johnny’s Jog for Charity. March 24, 2024.. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Laura Moran and her husband, Dan Moran, and their friends and fellow West Hartford residents Dan and Kelly Clark, started the 5K fundraising event in 2011, and it has taken place each year since then with the exception of 2020 due to the pandemic. The event was inspired by the incredible, brave, but sadly brief life of Laura and Dan Moran’s son, Johnny, who was born in 2007 with Wieacker Wolff Syndrome, a rare and debilitating condition. Johnny passed away in April 2016, but the organization and race founded in his honor continue to celebrate his resilience, strength, and positive attitude, and bring the community together.
Johnny’s Jog founders and organizers (from left): Dan Clark, Kelly Clark, Laura Moran, Dan Moran. Johnny’s Jog for Charity. March 24, 2024.. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Johnny’s Jog for Charity has raised more than $700,000 for local children’s organizations since its inception. Last year, Johnny’s Jog raised $95,000 for a number of charities which benefit the lives of local children annually and depend on donations to do so.
The beneficiaries of the race are all children’s-related nonprofits, and include Covenant Preparatory School of Hartford, which provides tuition-free middle school to boys in underserved families in the City of Hartford in order to help them graduate academically prepared for further education (www.covenantprep.org); the Miracle League of Connecticut, which fosters a community and sports facilities that remove all barriers so young athletes with unique needs are able to join their friends and experience the joy and triumph of team sports in their purest form (www.miracleleaguect.org); and the Molly Ann Tango Memorial Foundation which helps finance the purchase of much-needed medical supplies or services when insurance is exhausted and other social programs are unavailable (www.mollytango.org). These organizations benefit the lives of countless children annually and depend on communal donations to do so.
Johnny’s Jog for Charity. March 24, 2024.. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
To spread the love even further in the community, several years ago Johnny’s Jog added a fourth, rotating charity, termed a “Clover Club Charity.” Trinity Academy of Hartford, an independent tuition-free elementary school serving Hartford children and their families, is this year’s Clover Club beneficiary. Their mission is to educate students in nurturing and inclusive environments with a focus on intense academics, the arts, and socio-economic learning.
Johnny’s Jog is thankful to NBT Bank, the exclusive Grand St. Patrick’s Club sponsor showing impressive community support after being a sponsor for several years, as well as to the many other sponsoring organizations from throughout the community.
For more information about Johnnuy’s Jog, visit the website www.johnnysjog.com. You can also ollow Johnny’s Jog for Charity on Facebook or Instagram (@johnnysjog). Johnny’s Jog gear can also be found online here.
Johnny’s Jog for Charity. March 24, 2024.. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Johnny’s Jog for Charity. March 24, 2024.. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Johnny’s Jog for Charity. March 24, 2024.. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Johnny’s Jog for Charity. March 24, 2024.. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Johnny’s Jog for Charity. March 24, 2024.. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Johnny’s Jog for Charity. March 24, 2024.. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Johnny’s Jog for Charity. March 24, 2024.. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Johnny’s Jog for Charity. March 24, 2024.. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Johnny’s Jog for Charity. March 24, 2024.. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Johnny’s Jog for Charity. March 24, 2024.. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Johnny’s Jog for Charity. March 24, 2024.. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Johnny’s Jog for Charity. March 24, 2024.. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Johnny’s Jog for Charity. March 24, 2024.. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Johnny’s Jog for Charity. March 24, 2024.. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Johnny’s Jog for Charity. March 24, 2024.. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Johnny’s Jog for Charity. March 24, 2024.. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Johnny’s Jog for Charity. March 24, 2024.. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Johnny’s Jog for Charity. March 24, 2024.. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Johnny’s Jog for Charity. March 24, 2024.. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Johnny’s Jog for Charity. March 24, 2024.. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Johnny’s Jog for Charity. March 24, 2024.. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Johnny’s Jog for Charity. March 24, 2024.. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Johnny’s Jog for Charity. March 24, 2024.. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Johnny’s Jog for Charity. March 24, 2024.. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Johnny’s Jog for Charity. March 24, 2024.. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Johnny’s Jog for Charity. March 24, 2024.. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Johnny’s Jog for Charity. March 24, 2024.. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Johnny’s Jog for Charity. March 24, 2024.. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Johnny’s Jog for Charity. March 24, 2024.. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Johnny’s Jog for Charity. March 24, 2024.. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Johnny’s Jog for Charity. March 24, 2024.. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Johnny’s Jog for Charity. March 24, 2024.. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Johnny’s Jog for Charity. March 24, 2024.. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Johnny’s Jog for Charity. March 24, 2024.. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Johnny’s Jog for Charity. March 24, 2024.. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Johnny’s Jog for Charity. March 24, 2024.. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Johnny’s Jog for Charity. March 24, 2024.. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Johnny’s Jog for Charity. March 24, 2024.. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Johnny’s Jog for Charity. March 24, 2024.. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Johnny’s Jog for Charity. March 24, 2024.. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Johnny’s Jog for Charity. March 24, 2024.. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Johnny’s Jog for Charity. March 24, 2024.. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Johnny’s Jog for Charity. March 24, 2024.. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Johnny’s Jog for Charity. March 24, 2024.. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Johnny’s Jog for Charity. March 24, 2024.. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Johnny’s Jog for Charity. March 24, 2024.. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Johnny’s Jog for Charity. March 24, 2024.. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Johnny’s Jog for Charity. March 24, 2024.. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Johnny’s Jog for Charity. March 24, 2024.. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Johnny’s Jog for Charity. March 24, 2024.. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Johnny’s Jog for Charity. March 24, 2024.. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Johnny’s Jog for Charity. March 24, 2024.. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Johnny’s Jog for Charity. March 24, 2024.. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Johnny’s Jog for Charity. March 24, 2024.. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Johnny’s Jog for Charity. March 24, 2024.. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Johnny’s Jog for Charity. March 24, 2024.. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Johnny’s Jog for Charity. March 24, 2024.. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Johnny’s Jog for Charity. March 24, 2024.. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Johnny’s Jog for Charity. March 24, 2024.. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Johnny’s Jog for Charity. March 24, 2024.. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
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[…] Sunday morning was way too cold and windy for my liking, but I layered up and covered the annual Johnny’s Jog for Charity 5K and it was a great morning. A wonderful crowd running, sponsoring, and supporting the community event. (Story and lots of photos can be found here.) […]