SEASIDE HEIGHTS – People braved the cold in just their underwear during the recently held Annual Cupid’s Undie Run, the nation’s largest pant less party and mile run for charity.
This was the first time it was held in Seaside Heights and participants who were barely dressed braved some brutal winter wind taking a brisk run on the borough boardwalk as they exited from the Beachcomber Bar & Grill.
The event was created to bring further awareness of neurofibromatosis (NF), a genetic disorder that causes tumors to grow on nerves throughout the body and fundraises for NF research through the Children’s Tumor Foundation (CTF).
Bob Emolo and his sons Patrick and Rob came out to the event from Wayne New Jersey. Rob suffers from NF. They didn’t mind the brutally cold weather of that day.
“We’ve actually run alongside the highway by the (Battleship) Intrepid in zero degrees and 15 inches of snow,” Bob Emolo said.
“This is actually warm,” Patrick Emolo chimed in with a laugh.
“This is our first time at this event,” Rob Emolo added.
Patrick Emolo decided to not only run across the boardwalk and back with his father and brother but after some pizza at their return point, took a dip in the Atlantic Ocean. He raised $2,321 for the cause.
Site Coordinator Gael Burman was sporting her red tutu as she presented award medals to those who raised the highest donation totals. There were also 50/50s and raffles held to bring up the total.
“We just want to thank you. We have a raffle we will do when we get back to the run and this week we had some big news in the NF community. We got our second FDA approved drug to free NF symptoms,” she said. That news brought loud cheers and applause.
Burman added, “This is our second approved drug for children 2-18 and our first approved for adults. Because of the donations you guys make and the fundraising we do that we can have treatment for our children, our friends and our families and it is amazing.”
The event took place not only in the Borough of Seaside Heights but in 33 other cities across the United States. Burman received a medal herself as she had raised $1,275 toward the $15,000 goal.
“We have amazing teams who have reached an amazing amount of money,” she added. People can still donate to the cause until March 15 by visiting the group’s website, my.cupids.org/event/2025-cupids-undie-run-new-jersey/e643595
