As released by RunPositive:

HARRISBURG, Feb. 3-- The second annual "Jersey Mike Rock + Run 5K" will be held at noon on Saturday, April 19 on City Island and Riverfront Park, Harrisburg, Pa.

This 5-kilometer (3.1 mile) race is organized by local residents Jay Bowser, Josiah Ferris and Sara Bozich, who now operate under the name, RunPositive.

The race was created last year to raise money for the K+L Guardian foundation, a college fund created to benefit concert promoter "Jersey" Mike Van Jura's children after he died suddenly from a heart attack in 2012 at only age 36.

The Jersey Mike Rock + Run 5K was designed to promote heart-healthy activities and to provide outlets for adults and children who have lost a parent or loved one to manage grief through healthy, positive activities.

This year’s race not only continues to benefit the K+L Guardian Foundation, but the mission is expanding to reach out to a new family that is -- similar to Mike’s children last year -- coping with the loss of a parent. Kaiya and Lennon, Mike’s kids, will help identify the new family that this year’s race will help.

Runners and walkers - including a 1-Mile Fun Run for kids - can sign up online at jerseymikerun.com.

Updates can be found on RunPositive’s Facebook page and Twitter account, @RunPositiveOrg. The event will use the hashtag, #JM5K.

RunPositive will host a series of Happy Hour events for in-person registration at downtown restaurants and pubs leading up to race day, and participating restaurants also will accept registration at the bar. Information about these events and locations will be posted on the RunPositive Facebook page. Participants also will be able to register starting at 10 a.m. on race day.

“We were overwhelmed by the response we received last year,” said Bowser, who himself went from never running to becoming an accomplished ultramarathoner in the last year. “People begged us to hold the event annually, but we can only help one family so much. The insane success of last year’s Jersey Mike Run showed us this community can make goodwill overflow, so we wanted to share this surplus goodwill with a new family and keep doing it exponentially every year.”

The Rock + Run will collaborate with local Harrisburg, Pa. businesses, organizations and community members to fund, promote and participate in this healthy event. Last year’s event raised more than $10,000 for the K+L Foundation.

The race will be followed by a rock’n roll show featuring live bands at Ceoltas Irish Pub’s second and third floors, The Raftery Room and The Thatch.

For more information, visit jerseymikerun.com.

About RunPositive.

RunPositive is a not-for-profit volunteer group dedicated helping people who have lost a parent or loved one manage their grief and improve their lives through positive, heart-healthy activities.

The organization was born organically from three individuals who rallied together in the wake of a close friend's death. They came together to improve their own outlook and health and to direct the young children of this friend and father toward positive ways to deal with their loss.

About K+L Guardian Foundation

The K+L Guardian Foundation was formed after the untimely death of "Jersey" Mike Van Jura to benefit his two children. Jersey Mike was a music promoter, deeply active in his local Harrisburg, Pa. community, who worked tirelessly to promote the arts and community culture. His death was the result of a massive heart attack. He was only 36 years old.

K+L seeks to educate children, their parents and everyone about leading healthier lifestyles to prevent untimely death from heart disease and other controllable conditions. The Foundation sponsors events that promote heart health and provide a way for children who have lost a parent or loved one to manage grief through healthy, positive activities.

The K+L Guardian foundation is a legally-formed Pennsylvania Memorial Fund.

Photo Slide Show 2013 Rock And Run 5K.

Photos/Natalie Cake