Concord woman organizes local 5K to help her hometown on the Jersey Shore

CONCORD, N.C. — A New Jersey native living in Concord who missed out on running in the New York Marathon is now organizing a 5K to raise money to help her hometown ravaged by Hurricane Sandy.

"I just hope that it's back to something," Sarah Ferris said through tears. "Just picture your childhood, all of your memories."

Ferris is from the Rumson on the New Jersey coast, an area hit hard during Hurricane Sandy.

"There's a tent city in my parents’ neighborhood right now and it's just something you never imagine happening in the place where you’re from,” she said.

Ferris lives in Concord and was planning a trip up north to fulfill her childhood dream to run in the New York Marathon. Even before it was canceled, Ferris said she decided she was not going and instead wanted to find a way to help those dealing with the devastation.

"I just want it to be a place where my friends can eat and have shelter for their children,” she said.

After getting the idea from a friend, in one week Ferris organized a "Jogging for Jersey" 5K fundraiser.  It will be held Sunday at Frank Liske Park in Concord.

Davidson Timing and Vac & Dash are two of the local sponsors who immediately signed on to the effort now dubbed Save the Shore.

"She's been an integral part of our running community. The least we can do is give back to her,” Chad Randolph with Davidson Timing said.

Ferris also found support in Jersey shore native Brian Adinolfe and his wife Dawn, who is from New York. The couple owns Dough New York Style Bakery in Concord and will donate all of their profits Friday and Saturday to the effort.

"I imagine if we were back home we'd be volunteering or helping out doing whatever we could, so it's a little something that’s going to help a lot of people hopefully,” Adinolfe said.

All of the money raised during the Save the Shore weekend will go to The Foodbank of Monmouth and Ocean Counties.  Ferris said just $1 can provide three meals.

Dough New York Style Bakery in Concord will hold its bake sale and raffle Friday and Saturday from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.  The bakery is located in Afton Village at 360 Exchange St., Suite 111 in Concord.

If you would like to register for the Jogging for Jersey 5K, click here.

To donate directly to The Foodbank of Monmouth and Ocean Counties, click here.

WSOC