Register Now for the Achieve Foundation’s INstead 5K Race Sept 25-27

Like so many other activities and events, the Achieve Foundation’s fall fundraiser is going virtual this year! We hope fans of the annual Newstead 5K -- as well as those who have taken up walking and running during the quarantine time -- will join us for the 2020 INstead Virtual 5K Race during the weekend of September 25-27, 2020 .

Sign up today and invite your friends and family (even those who don’t live locally!) to participate in the fun and family-friendly event that has become a marker of the new school year in South Orange and Maplewood. This year’s race is like the ‘old’ Newstead 5K, but with a twist: it will be fully virtual. Choose your day, time and route. Several route suggestions through picturesque SOMA neighborhoods are posted on the race registration page (e.g. the INstead “3for5K” loop that passes by 3 SOMSD schools, the INstead “SO-Hilly” loop, and the INstead “Newstead Classic”) -- or run your favorite 5K route right from your front door.

Registration is only $25 per person through September 20, but the fee will go up to $35 after that, so sign up to walk or run today! Student participation is encouraged, and we do not want the registration fee to be a barrier. Scholarships are available! Please email @AchieveFoundation.org" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">newstead5k@AchieveFoundation.org for a coupon code to register at no charge. Local participants will receive one of our popular dry wick race T-shirts (while supplies last).

While this year’s race may be virtual, we have some very real fundraising goals, and registrants will be given the option to create a personal fundraising page as well as to register multiple family members when they sign up. Since this can be run (or walked) anywhere, you can even include long-distance friends and family on your team!

The Achieve Foundation sincerely thanks the 47 local businesses and families who sponsored this year’s race! You can see the full array of sponsors above, but we’d like to give special recognition to presenting sponsor SOMEA and our 11 platinum sponsors: 4 Elbows, The Able Baker, Allison Ziefert Real Estate Group, Amy Paternite Homes, Berkowitz Lichtstein LLC, Brinton Brosius Inc., D&I Fitness, Mark Truscinski of Distinctive Properties Group at Hearth Realty, Morrow Church Turnover Sale, RegentAtlantic, and South Orange Country Day School.

Funds raised by the race underwrite initiatives that foster equal educational opportunities for all students in the School District of South Orange & Maplewood, and inspire educators to bring innovative practices to the classroom – programs like Achieve’s signature free volunteer tutor program, educator grants, a Chromebook lending library at CHS, hotspots for use during distance learning, STEAM education (science, technology, engineering, arts and math), and more.

To learn more, email

@AchieveFoundation.org" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">newstead5k@AchieveFoundation.org