Justin Osmond To Be At New Jersey MAD Dash
5K Fundraiser For Hearing Fund
My Central Jersey
by Bradley W. Wadlow
November 1, 2011
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PISCATAWAY — Those who remember the Donny and Marie Osmond television program from the 1970s may recall that Marie was “a little bit country” and Donny was “a little bit rock ’n’ roll.”
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An event taking place Nov. 13 is a little bit New Jersey MAD Dash five-kilometer race and a little bit one-mile fun run for children age 10 and younger.
And the culmination of both runs is all for a noteworthy cause.
The event, at Johnson Park, is being hosted by the MAD (Making a Difference) program, which is endorsed by entertainer Donny Osmond and is part of the Olive Osmond Perpetual Hearing Fund.
Justin Osmond, who is the second son of Osmond brother Merrill Osmond, and his wife, Mary, is the founder of the hearing fund. Justin’s uncles Virl and Tom both have hearing losses.
And Justin himself has a 90 percent hearing loss.
“I’m a very blessed and fortunate young man to have the help of so many so that I can hear with conviction and speak with passion,” Justin said. “I’m currently wearing two hearing aids. It’s a genetic, hereditary hearing loss. I’m the only one from the second generation who inherited this hearing loss. I love it, because it’s made me who I am today. I may have a hearing loss, but that hearing loss does not have me.”
It was the fund’s namesake who motivated Justin to found it.
“You might have heard of the Children’s Miracle Network,” Justin said. “It has generated over a billion dollars in charity funding. It was started and founded by my grandmother, Olive Osmond.”
As a result of having two sons who were hearing impaired, Olive Osmond started what was then called the Osmond Foundation.
“The primary objective for the Osmond Foundation was to help her two deaf sons and promote hearing health awareness and provide for the needs of the hearing impaired. As it grew and expanded, it was renamed to the world-renowned Children’s Miracle Network. The Olive Osmond Perpetual Hearing Fund’s purpose is to help carry Olive’s original dream and provide the gift of hearing to all those who cannot afford it. My goal is to carry her legacy and help fulfill her dream to help many children around the world with the gift of better hearing and to facilitate their needs,” Justin said.
The aim of the MAD program and the hearing fund are to help “bring music to your ears” and to help those living with a hearing loss in local communities around the country.
The cost to participate in the 5k is $25 until Nov. 12 and $30 for same-day registration. The cost for the children’s run is $10 until Nov. 12 and $15 for same-day registration. Because this is a charitable run, registration fees are nonrefundable.
Proceeds from this event will benefit the Marie H. Katzenbach New Jersey School for the Deaf.
“These wonderful children have a bright future in front of them,” Justin said of the school’s students. “Wonderful school, wonderful program. We want to support them, to support their education/research programs and to help provide a brighter future for these kids. They have a huge potential. Just because they have a hearing loss does not mean that that hearing loss has to have them. Hopefully we can come in and help make a difference for their school programs and help these kids be all they can be!”
And Justin, who is flying in, will be there, too.
“I wouldn’t want to miss this event. I’ll be running with the kids. I might end up in last place, but it’s not always about winning the race. I’m excited to unite with these kids, the school and our wonderful sponsors.”
Horizon NJ Health, the school for the deaf and Family Karate Super Center are presenting sponsors.
The 5k begins at 9 a.m. and the children’s run at 10 a.m. The park is on River Road.
“This is our first annual MAD race in New Jersey, and we plan to do this again for many more years to come,” Justin said.
And while this may be the first time the MAD race is in New Jersey, not so for Justin.
“I’ve actually been there before, absolutely love it. I love the people of New Jersey, and I’m so looking forward to coming out there again.”
So, what is it like to grow up as an Osmond?
“I love my family. I love them so much,” Justin said. “I’m just an ordinary guy from an extraordinary, wonderful family. We’re just normal people, doing what we love to do, and that is music. We just celebrated our 50th anniversary, and we’re going to keep doing it until we get it right.”
The aim of the MAD program and the hearing fund are to help “bring music to your ears” and to help those living with a hearing loss in local communities around the country.
The cost to participate in the 5k is $25 until Nov. 12 and $30 for same-day registration. The cost for the children’s run is $10 until Nov. 12 and $15 for same-day registration. Because this is a charitable run, registration fees are nonrefundable.
Proceeds from this event will benefit the Marie H. Katzenbach New Jersey School for the Deaf.
“These wonderful children have a bright future in front of them,” Justin said of the school’s students. “Wonderful school, wonderful program. We want to support them, to support their education/research programs and to help provide a brighter future for these kids. They have a huge potential. Just because they have a hearing loss does not mean that that hearing loss has to have them. Hopefully we can come in and help make a difference for their school programs and help these kids be all they can be!”
And Justin, who is flying in, will be there, too.
“I wouldn’t want to miss this event. I’ll be running with the kids. I might end up in last place, but it’s not always about winning the race. I’m excited to unite with these kids, the school and our wonderful sponsors.”
Horizon NJ Health, the school for the deaf and Family Karate Super Center are presenting sponsors.
The 5k begins at 9 a.m. and the children’s run at 10 a.m. The park is on River Road.
“This is our first annual MAD race in New Jersey, and we plan to do this again for many more years to come,” Justin said.
And while this may be the first time the MAD race is in New Jersey, not so for Justin.
“I’ve actually been there before, absolutely love it. I love the people of New Jersey, and I’m so looking forward to coming out there again.”
So, what is it like to grow up as an Osmond?
“I love my family. I love them so much,” Justin said. “I’m just an ordinary guy from an extraordinary, wonderful family. We’re just normal people, doing what we love to do, and that is music. We just celebrated our 50th anniversary, and we’re going to keep doing it until we get it right. |
