Greta's Run 5K & Memory Walk

The 13th Annual Greta’s Run for Imagine will take place on Sunday, May 17, 2026, at Roosevelt Intermediate School in Westfield, New Jersey. This year’s event will feature a USATF-certified 5K race at 9:00AM, followed by a Kids Fun Run at 10:00AM and conclude with a Memory Walk at 10:30AM. 

History of the Event

Greta’s Run was founded in 2012 in memory of Greta Schoenemann, a Westfield High School freshman who tragically died after sustaining injuries when a tree branch fell on her and her classmates during lunch. In 2019, Greta’s Run was proudly inherited by Imagine, A Center for Coping with Loss, and continues with the support of the Schoenemann family and the greater Westfield community. Each year, participants run in memory of Greta and the many loved ones our community has lost, helping to honor their stories and keep their legacies alive.

Last year, thanks to the incredible generosity of our community, Greta’s Run raised over $250,000—an extraordinary achievement that directly supported Imagine’s free programs and services. As the demand for grief support continues to grow, so does our commitment to meeting the needs of our community. This year, we hope to raise $300,000 to allow Imagine to open additional Nights of Support, ensuring that even more children, families, and community members have access to the care they need.

About Imagine

Imagine, located in both Mountainside and Newark, NJ, provides FREE, year-round peer grief support groups for children and families coping with the death of a parent, sibling, or child. According to a 2025 study conducted by the Childhood Bereavement Estimate Model, 151,000 children in New Jersey will experience the loss of a parent or sibling before the age of 18—a number that more than doubles to 365,000 by age 25. Our work focuses on transforming grief into resilience, empathy, and compassion, ensuring that young people grow up emotionally healthy and able to lead meaningful and productive lives. In addition to support groups at our two centers, Imagine offers grief education and training to schools, agencies, and workplaces, as well as on-site support following traumatic loss. 

 

T-Shirt & Bib Pick Up

T-Shirt and Bib Pick Up will be available in advance of race day at Fleet Feet Westfield on:

Friday, May 15th: 4 - 7PM 

Saturday, May 16th: 9* - 1PM. *Fleet Feet will be opening an hour early for T-Shirt and Bib Pick Up this year. 

Shirts and bibs will also be available for pickup on the morning of the race beginning at 7:45 AM.