'Doc Walk' To Celebrate Life Of Late Ridgewood Doctor

RIDGEWOOD, NJ — On Saturday, the Saddle River Wild Duck Pond in Ridgewood will transform into the Doc Pond as village residents celebrate the life of the late Dr. Sheeraz Iqbal.

Registrants will walk the pathway along Saddle River from the pond at 10 a.m. in memory of Iqbal — a Ridgewood pediatrics specialist and "The Dads' Night Band" member who raised funds for local schools, and passed away in December after a battle with cancer. A husband and father of two, Iqbal died at age 46, Patch reported.

In conjunction with the aptly named Doc Walk — which will follow a portion of a path Iqbal used to bike and walk almost weekly —, the event's co-founders are raising funds for the Gesundheit! Institute, a nonprofit healthcare organization that was important to the late doctor.

"We will follow in his footsteps doing something he loved together with his family and friends," the co-founders said on Facebook, adding that 100% of what is raised will be donated to the institute at the request of the Iqbal family.

The Doc Walk, the co-founders said, was born on Dec. 28, 2022, over breakfast, when they had spent time reminiscing about Iqbal through stories and pictures, and asked the question about what could be done to celebrate their friend together on a yearly basis.

"It was at that point the Doc Walk came to life," the co-founders said. "We were blessed to have had the time we did with (Iqbal) and knew so many others felt the same."

Following the approximately 3.5-mile walk to the Saddle River Park Waterfall and back to the pond, the Dad's Night Band will play live music, and there will be a raffle along with a "few other surprises," the co-founders said.

In a testament to Iqbal's reach in the community, more than 800 people have registered for the walk, as of Thursday.

"We are blown away (but not surprised) at the level of support the Doc Walk has received," the co-founders said. "We look forward to celebrating Sheeraz with everyone."

Donations (not required to participate in the walk) are accepted via PayPal using dociqbalwalk@gmail.com as the username, or at the event under the pavilion.

"(Iqbal's) memory will live on daily for all of us. Much love on behalf of the Iqbal family and your Doc Walk co-founders: Chris Kaufman, Michael Lawson, Scott Orr, Charles Sands and Claude Walker."