Stop for Nikhil 5K Run/Walk

The Nikhil Badlani Foundation will host its third annual “Stop for Nikhil 5K Run/Walk” on Sunday, September 22 at West Orange High School. The event focuses attention every year on saving lives by raising traffic safety awareness.

The Stop for Nikhil 5K Run/Walk is part of the ongoing efforts of the Nikhil Badlani Foundation, created to honor 11-year old Nikhil Badlani of West Orange, who died as the result of a distracted driver running through a STOP sign. All participants and spectators are asked to take the Safety Pledge to Nikhil, an oath to STOP COMPLETELY (at a STOP sign), STAY ALERT, TALK SAFE, and PLAN AHEAD when driving.  

The day’s activities will commence with West Orange Mayor Robert Parisi introducing the event’s illustrious keynote speaker, James Simpson, commissioner of NJ Department of Transportation.   After the race, foundation founder, Sangeeta Badlani, will present an award in recognition of a local individual who displays courage, perseverance, and giving hope and strength to others.

Numerous high-profile organizations, also focused on teen driving safety, will have a presence at the event. The NJ Teen Safe Driving Coalition, the Brain Injury Alliance of NJ, Andy Anderson’s Smarter Drivers = Safer Streets program, which uses math and science to educate teens about crash risk and driver safety, and Drive Safer, a revolutionary program that focuses on saving lives by teaching critical car control and defensive driving skills to teens and parents, will be among those sharing information with attendees.

Following the run and walk, a series of fun sprint dashes for younger children will be held on the football field, as well as a toddler “Power Wheels” safe driving course adjacent to the main parking lot. Live music will be performed by The New Black, who will play an original score on Traffic Safety that will have everyone singing. The event will conclude with an award ceremony for top finishers in each age group for male and female.  

At last year’s Run/Walk, the Foundation raised approximately $40,000 to put toward its efforts to promote traffic safety, provide music lessons to talented underserved children, and contribute to academic scholarships for graduating seniors in West Orange. For more information go to NikhilBadlaniFoundation.org