Cranford’s 86-year-old long-time resident, Margaret Collins (known to friends and family as Vera), completed the Fall 5K to support the PTA’s of Bloomingdale Avenue and Orange Avenue Schools in Cranford on November 6th. This was Vera’s first 5K race and she was joined by her 2 daughters, Veronica Collins of Cranford and Eileen Collins of Scotch Plains, as well as 2 of her 6 grandchildren, Meghan Lamar of Cranford and Artemis Collins of Scotch Plains. The 3 generations walked the race together which was a USA Track and Field Certified 5K race that started at Bloomingdale Avenue School at 8:30 a.m. Top finishers in each age group received a medal and Vera came home with the top female finisher in the 70+ age group.
Vera was born in County Cork, Ireland and grew up outside a small village known as Ardgroom Village in the SouthWest region of the country. She was one of 14 children and immigrated to the United States at the age of 21 along with one of her brothers. Ultimately, 9 of her siblings also immigrated here. Vera married Jeremiah Collins in 1956 and they raised their four children in Brooklyn, NY. When her husband passed in 1994, Vera moved to Cranford to live with her daughter Veronica and her family and has been and continues to be a provider of love and guidance to her two granddaughters (Sheila Lamar and Meghan Lamar) who were raised in Cranford and attended the schools which the race supports. Meghan, who is currently a senior at Cranford High, attended Bloomingdale Avenue School and both Meghan and Sheila (who is currently attending a joint MBA / JD program at Michigan State University) attended Orange Avenue School.
Vera continues to be instrumental in her family’s daily lives. While Vera’s daughter Veronica has participated in the annual Fall 5K since it began, this is the first year that the 3 generations participated together and the first year Vera has ever participated in a race. Vera started walking with her daughters after reading that walking can add years to a person’s life. At 86 years old, Vera is working toward adding many more years to her life and shares that she will continue walking and this will not be the last race she participates in.
(above l-r) Three generations completed the Fall 5K together in Cranford on November 6th. Veronica Collins, Meghan Lamar, Vera Collins (all of Cranford), Artemis Collins and Eileen
Collins (of Scotch Plains).
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