Page 7 - Valley Life & Health

THE MORNING CALL SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2019 7
Annual Women’s 5K Classic fosters

education, sisterhood, and treatment

Expo on Oct. 4 & Run/Walk on Oct. 5 shine a light
on women helping women
By Shannon Sigafoos of The Morning Call

ollaboration, knowledge sharing, and a – which is free and open to the public – will also the event are all about building solid community
willingness to take on new roles without include shopping, free giveaways, and healthy relationships.
Chaving prior experience in that particular food demonstrations. “I think that’s what’s different about women
niche – be it fundraising, marketing or overall organizing The Women’s 5K Classic has always aimed to running this event, as well – these sponsors are really
– can be a boon to charitable endeavors that want to educate not just about breast cancer, but about responding and really want to be involved because
maximize their resources and expand their impact. But awareness, prevention and treatment of all women’s we’ve developed great relationships with them. Our
27 years ago, when Wendy Body and Ingrid Gerber cancers – and about how fitness can help with both meetings are like gathering around the fireplace and
first teamed up to organize the inaugural Women’s prevention and getting through treatment. really all about community spirit,” says Body. “We’re
5K Classic, they never could have imagined that what “It’s important to know that the mission of our just so grateful for what they’re able to give.”
they’d be growing was the start of the most successful event is not just about breast cancer. It is also about “Every day, something happens that makes me
fundraising run/walk in the Lehigh Valley – as well as a promoting fitness. What we tried to do is create realize that you hear about all of the negativity in
network of lifelong friendships. an event in a very non-threatening and supportive the world, but there are so many good people out
Since 1993, the nearly $3.5 million that has been environment – to get people to do their first 5K there who want to help…and it just restores my
raised by the event – stemming from the work of a whether they walk it, crawl it, whatever,” says Body. faith in humanity. It anchors me to thinking that
dedicated group of several hundred volunteers – has “We’re about getting people out there. We love when people are intrinsically good,” Body echoes.
been put back into the local community and impacted we hear that it’s someone’s first time.” That same sentiment goes back to the core
the lives of over 13,000 women and their families. It should go without saying, of course, that to group putting the Classic together. It has often been
This year’s Classic takes place on Saturday, see an event like this run for nearly three decades said that a woman alone has power but collectively,
October 5 at the Little Lehigh Parkway in Allentown. means that, unfortunately, cancer continues to they have an impact. Yet culture has determined that
It begins at 9:15 a.m. with the Parade of Survivors, with impact women across the Lehigh Valley. Women traditionally, women are taught to be competitive
the race taking place at 10 a.m. of all ages and backgrounds are forced to confront with one another because of the scarcity of the right
“Wendy approached me when we were both a diagnosis year after year, and suddenly there are place or the right role for everyone. What has fueled
in our 20s saying, ‘Hey, let’s do this event.’ Both many decisions to be made about treatments, the success of the Women’s 5K Classic for 27 years
of us were runners, so we knew, logistically, what possible surgeries, and recovery. is that organizers and volunteers have found the real
organizing an event would sort of entail. We cobbled In the 10 weeks leading up to the Classic, truth: that raising each other up and channeling the
together this group of people and it just worked,” committee members have highlighted some of those power of collaboration is truly how they can continue
says Gerber. “We had this ‘can do’ attitude and a lot women – beneficiaries of the funds raised by the to make a difference – and have fun along the way.
of people put on hats and took on roles that they event – in social media posts that talk about what the “We are all willing to learn to make this event
had never done before. We didn’t have a professional event means to them and why they support it. These better. Our egos get checked at the door, and that’s
fundraiser. We didn’t have a professional marketing women are treated through local health networks a huge thing that helps us work really well together,”
and communications person. We just decided that we and support systems thanks to grants made possible says Body. “We’re such good friends. We can say
were powerful. We can do this.” through the Women’s 5K Classic, including grant things that we disagree with and we’re able to
It is that can-do attitude that has prevailed each funding provided to Lehigh Valley Health Network, handle controversy. We get through the meetings
year since, with the volunteer pool and the event itself St. Luke’s University Health Network, the Cancer and stay on track, but then afterward we go to
growing and changing. Nearly 3,000 participants took Support Community of the Greater Lehigh Valley, and dinner together and drink a bottle of wine together.
part in the run or the walk last year, with organizers more. (See our related article in this issue about the We’re very committed and we really enjoy working
reporting that another 400+ additional women signed Memorial Sloan Kettering IMPACT trial at LVHN) together. That’s a formula for success.”
up for next month’s Classic. “The proceeds go right out the door to fund
The festivities kick off at 3 p.m. Friday afternoon local programs, and we’re really proud of that,” Join this year’s Women’s 5K Classic
with the 2019 Josh Early Candies Women’s 5K Classic Gerber acknowledges. The theme of this year’s event is “making a
Health Expo & Packet Pick-Up at the St. Luke’s The Classic is also highlighting sponsors both memory” – and you can come out and be a
West End Medical Center at 501 Cetronia Road in new and old that have been part of the fabric of the part of it.
Allentown. Expo demonstrations will include bone event, and over time, sponsors – just like runners “We’re encouraging women to come out with
density heel scans, body fat analysis, mammogram and walkers – have become like family to the their sisters, their friends, and their coworkers –
information, blood pressure screenings, chair massage organizers. From forming teams to volunteering to and make memories together,” says Body.
relaxation techniques, home safety tips, mini facials, coming out on the day of to cheer on participants, Register at womens5kclassic.org or call
and skin care products and treatments. The Expo sponsors have gotten to know that the roots of Sally Corvino at 610-395-6871.