If you are a runner looking for a charity number for the Spring Lake 5 Mile Run and want to be a member of Team Freedom and Support Veterans please click on the button below to contact Jim.

Meet the other members of Team Freedom. Have a nice carbo-load of Pasta, meet some Asbury Park DAV members that you can thank for their service, and pick up your custom Team Freedom XXVI shirt.

Join the Team

Team Photo

Welcome to Team Freedom XXVI! We have a simple but essential mission – we will never forget the true meaning of Memorial Day! From America’s founding to today, there have been 960,520 military members who have died fighting in America’s wars. We run as Team Freedom to honor those who lost their lives while defending our country and our way of life.

We are honored to be a SL5 Charity Team, which enables us to raise money for local veterans in need. Over the years, we have raised over $150,000 for veteran causes all through the SL5 charity program. We hope you will join us on our 26th year running the SL5!

Team Freedom is raising money to ensure that local disabled veterans can continue to safely and confidently live a life of dignity and get the services they need.

For over 25 years, Team Freedom has raised donations for veteran causes during the Spring Lake 5 Memorial Day Weekend race.

Seven years ago, we raised enough donations to purchase a new mobility wheelchair van for local Asbury Park disabled veterans. The van proved to be life-changing for many of the chapter’s veterans, who before the van, were unable to get to medical appointments, shop for basic essentials, and attend gatherings. The van greatly improved the quality of life of the Chapter’s members.

Help us Help them.

Team Freedom 2024 is proud to assist “Homes For VETS” raise money to help support a NJ Veteran in need of an accessible bathroom.

Welcome to Team Freedom!

Team Freedom is a local running team that started in 1997, as a small group of runners. Each year, we run the Spring Lake 5 held over Memorial Day Weekend.

Team Freedom has a simple yet important mission: to remember the true meaning of Memorial Day. We have had thousands of runners join us over the years and have raised over $150,000 for veteran causes. Within our ranks, we have veterans, runners, walkers, and an amazing cheering section! On race day, we all wear the same patriotic shirt to remind each other and the other runners how grateful we are to all those who have died in service to our country.

We welcome new team members each year and we would be honored if you decide to join our ranks. Please pass along our message and please direct anyone in joining to www.runteamfreedom.org. We look forward to seeing you this year and meeting all the new Team Freedom members.

We will be assisting “Homes for VETS” this year– specifically Guy Saladino – a NJ Veteran in need of an accessible bathroom.

Guy served on an aircraft carrier during the Vietnam War. Since his service, he has battled Multiple Sclerosis, leaving him unable to walk and reliant on a wheelchair. His home lacks accessible bathroom facilities, making daily tasks challenging. Our goal is to provide him with the independence and dignity he deserves.

Our goal is to raise $20,000

We Remember!!

Jim

Donate Here

Donations are not required but greatly appreciated.

TEAM FREEDOM’S MISSION

This is Team Freedom’s 25th year running the Spring Lake Five. While we have raised over $150,000 for veteran causes over the years, our primary mission is to simply remember, and remind others of, the true meaning of Memorial Day. We are honored to be the only veteran-based charity running the SL5!

As a way to honor the fallen, we also raise money for veteran-based causes. Some of the causes we have supported over the years are:

2023 – Team Freedom supported NJ Troopers Assisting Troops (TAT). TAT is a grassroots NJ-based nonprofit group of retired and active New Jersey State Troopers and friends providing support to returning Wounded Warriors from Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF), Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) and Operation Inherent Resolve recreational and rehabilitative programs.

TAT works with K9s For Warriors to match a rescue dog with a local wounded veteran to assist in the transition of his or her return to civilian life with dignity and independence. Wounded Warriors attend K9s For Warriors Campus for a three-week resident academy where they are partnered up with their new companion. TAT sponsors wounded warriors to participate in this program and pays for the dog’s maintenance and vet care, the warrior’s transportation, training, certification equipment, housing, meals, and teaching manuals. There is no cost to the Warrior. This program saves two lives, the rescue dog and the Wounded Warrior.

The cost to provide a service dog to a veteran is $15,000. Our goal this year is to raise $15,000 to ensure a wounded veteran can live his or her life with dignity and independence with the help of the service dog.

You can still donate directly on TAT’s website: http://troopersassistingtroops.org/ Please add “Team Freedom” in the note section.

2019 – We were very excited to partner with Team Shamrock and The Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation to help build a mortgage-free smart home for a catastrophically injured local Neptune service member, Scott Nokes.

During his second tour of duty in Afghanistan, Scott, a Marine corporal, developed an infection that would result in the loss of both his legs and his eyesight.

The home will be custom designed to address his unique needs. The house will feature automated doors and lighting, wider halls and doorways, special showers to accommodate wheelchairs, automatic door openers, cabinets, counters, and stovetops that can be raised and lowered, back-up generators, and central heating and air conditioning systems that can be controlled by tablets. This home will enable the veteran to live a better, more independent life.

2018 – Hope For Veterans Mental Health Care Initiative – we raised over $13,000 for the Hope for Veterans Program that cares for veterans struggling with PTSD, depression and other forms of mental illness and addiction. The program provides as many as 20 veterans with on-site, timely individual and group counseling to complement the case management services provided at its largest veterans program. There was an immediate improvement with the participating veterans struggling with mental health issues. At-risk veterans who might otherwise be reluctant to seek mental health care services because of fear of stigma or lack of trust with the VA, are benefiting from ongoing therapy from the Hope for Veterans counselors.

2017 – Hope For Veterans Emergency Meals – we raised over $12,000 to provide emergency meals for Hope for Veterans. Hope for Veterans is a 95-bed transitional housing program for homeless veterans and the largest and most comprehensive program for homeless veterans in New Jersey.

2016 – Asbury Park Chapter of the DAV (Disabled American Veterans) – we raised over $30,000 to purchase a much-needed wheel-chair accessible van for their members. The Chapter is now able to transport disabled veterans to essential medical care.

2015 – National Disabled American Veterans – we raised over $6,000 to assist disabled veterans get the care and support they need to recover from their injuries.

2013 & 2014 – American Widow Project -raised over $15,000 to support widows of service members who died in service

2012 – Wounded Warrior Project

2011 – National Guard Militia Museum of New Jersey located at Sea Girt Army Camp

2010 – Wounded Warrior Project

2009 – USO

2007 – Fischer House

2006 – Salute America’s Heroes

Spring Lake Five Mile Run

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