Marlboro's 5th Annual Walk/Run For The Zachary Foundation

MARLBORO - The Zachary Foundation's annual run/walk will be extra special this year, as the event celebrates its fifth anniversary.

The run/walk will be held on Oct. 18, with registration beginning at 8 a.m. and the race starting at 9 a.m. The event will feature a 5- kilometer run and a 1-mile run/walk. The charity walk will be held at the Marlboro Recreation Community Center, Wyncrest Road.

Registrants are asked to sign up in advance through the foundation's website at www.thezacharyfoundation.org. All proceeds raised by the event are donated to benefit the research of mitochondrial disease.

The day will feature games for children, a disc jockey and raffle prizes donated by local merchants.

The foundation is named for Zachary Friedberg, 11, who has a rare form of mitochondrial disease. Zachary was diagnosed with the genetic disease when he was 3.

Zachary lives in the Morganville section of Marlboro with his parents, Michael and Rhonda Friedberg, and his siblings, Ben, 14, and Rebecca, 7.

Zachary is missing an enzyme that breaks down carbohydrates into usable energy; instead Zachary's body turns carbohydrates into poisonous lactic acid, which prevents his brain and body from functioning properly. As a result of having the disease, Zachary has been on a no-carbohydrate, 90-percent fat diet. Michael Friedberg said the past four charity walks have seen more than 500 community members come out in support of mitochondrial disease research.

The Zachary Foundation's philosophy is to support research and all money raised is donated to organizations performing such studies. To date the foundation has donated more than $200,000 to mitochondrial disease research.

"Hopefully someday families won't have to endure the challenges we endure on a daily basis because of Zachary's disease," Friedberg said.

Zachary is doing very well for a child with his condition, his father reported.

Friedberg said the family is extremely grateful that the community continues to support Zachary's cause.