Runners Go the Distance to Raise Nearly $22,000 for Local American Red Cross
News Release: July 20, 2003
Contact: Janice Osborne, Director-Communications and Marketing (610) 865-4400, ext. 262

A total of 542 runners – ages 13 to 71 – took great strides this morning (7/20) to help raise more than $22,000 to benefit the programs and services of the American Red Cross of the Greater Lehigh Valley.

Ninety-nine relay teams and 52 iron division runners from eight states took part in the 13th Annual American Red Cross Lehigh River Relay Run that began at 6:45 a.m. at Canal Park in Allentown, threaded through Bethlehem, and ended in Easton’s Riverside Park. Relay team distances varied from 3.38 miles to 5 miles. Iron division participants ran the entire 23 miles.

“When disasters like house fires strike, revenue from events like this help provide families with immediate emergency needs,” said John Hughes, executive director of the local Red Cross. “This past fiscal year (July 1, 2002 to June 30, 2003) has been particularly challenging for us. The local Red Cross responded to a record 126 disasters, assisting 748 Lehigh Valley residents. Nearly $172,000 was committed to disaster relief assistance, almost 2-1/2 times more than the budgeted amount for the fiscal year.

“Emergency disaster relief may include a safe place to stay, meals, new clothing and shoes, medication replacement and other items for each resident affected by a disaster. Of course, that doesn't count the emotional support and continued assistance by Red Cross during their recovery process.

"Red Cross fund-raising events also support community-based health and education programs such as scholarships for learn-to-swim programs; Lifeline, a personal emergency response system for older adults and the physically challenged; HIV/AIDS community education programs and more,” added Hughes.

Seventy Red Cross volunteers were on the course helping with setup, handing out water and sports drink to runners, providing direction, staffing the food court, timing and recording, assisting with first-aid if needed, and tallying the results.

Jim Bedick of PPL, who is stepping down as race director after 10 years, was recognized by Hughes for his outstanding contribution of both time and financial support for the organization. “Through Jim’s volunteer leadership and passion for the Red Cross and running, this event has netted nearly $195,000 over the last 13 years to benefit this local Red Cross and the people we serve,” said Hughes. “Jim continually raised the bar on this event to make it one of the area’s most popular and longstanding running events.”

Entry fee for the race was based on a pledge format, allowing participants to solicit support from friends, neighbors and co-workers. The team of BOC Blood Runners raised the most money -- $395; individually Pete Walkoe of Easton raised the most money, $200.

Award winners by category:

Overall relay team winner: Aardvark Men - 2:03

Overall iron division winner: Mark Jobes - 2:25

Women’s Open (any age)

Men’s Open (any age)

1. Running With Wolf - 2:20

2. Aardvark Women - 2:23

3. Five Ole Broads - 2:55

1. Aardvark Men - 2:03 (overall team relay winner)

2. Four Yanks & A Brit - 2:10

3. Bolivian Connection - 2:11

Mixed Open (any age)

Corporate Women’s Open (any age)

1. Team Goof Off - 2:20

2. Ta-Dye For - 2:22

3. Shocked For Life - 2:26

1. Kraft Kruisers - 3:26

2. 4 Blondes and a Brunette - 3:37

Corporate Men’s Open (any age)

Corporate Mixed (any age)

1. Aardvark Staff - 2:20

2. Running With Concrete Shoes - 2:40

3. Agere Systems Team A - 2:43

1. Leopard's Lunch Bunch - 2:30

2. Deceptively Slow - 2:39

3. Greyhounds & Wildcats - 2:47

Women’s Sub-Masters (min. age 30)

Men’s Sub-Masters (min. age 30)

1. Healthcare Harriers - 3:03

1. Two Chicks Short of Mixed - 2:23

2. Limiting Factors - 2:43

3. Running With Bobby Z - 2:51

Mixed Sub-Masters (min. age 30)

Women’s Masters (min. age 40)

1. Has Been Track Club - 2:31

2. Running Scared - 2:50

3. City Slackers - 3:00

1. The Gracies - 3:21

Men’s Masters (min. age 40)

Mixed Masters (min. age 40)

1. The Broken Spokes - 2:26

2. LU Hiss'n Goose Chasers - 2:28

3. Lock House Harriers - 2:31

1. Chevy 21's - 2:24

2. Aardvark Master Blasters - 2:26

3. Nazareth/Bangor Junction - 2:44

Women’s Grand Masters (min. age 50)

Men’s Grand Masters (min. age 50)

1. The Cronagers - 3:14

2. Hot Flashers - 3:16

1. Lake Galena Striders - 2:29

Race Sponsor

Family

1. Run TMC - 2:58

2. The Morning Crawlers - 2:59

3. The Morning Call Team - 3:10

1. One Wacki Family - 2:25

2. Who Let the Yassos Out? - 3:03

3. Sparky's - 3:06

High School Boys' Team (Class of '03 or younger)

High School Girls' Team (Class of '03 or younger)

1. The Runners - 2:29

1. Fast Feet - 2:42

High School Mixed Team (Class of '03 or younger)

No teams registered

Iron Division – Male

Iron Division – Female

1. Mark Jobes - 2:25 (overall iron division winner)

2. Jeff Karwacki - 2:32

3. Christopher Reed - 2:37

1. Maressa Tosto - 2:55

2. Joan Messick - 3:06

3. Kelly Haymaker - 3:09

Iron Division Masters – Male (min. age 40)

Iron Division Masters – Female (min. age 40)

1. Jim Deily - 2:41

2. John Passalugo - 2:47

3. John Blaxland - 2:51

1. Debra Azemar - 3:26

2. Dina Hayduk - 4:20

Iron Division Grand Masters – Male (min. age 50)

Iron Division Grand Masters – Female (min. age 50)

1. Joe Burzynski - 3:02

2. Bruce Marshall - 3:13

3. Donald Davis - 3:14

1. Mary Vish - 3:56


Most Creative Team Name: The Wacki Family (The Karwacki family of Bethlehem)

Best Dressed Team: 744th M.P.

Complete race results will be available online at www.redcrosslv.org in about two weeks.

Premier Sponsor of the race was The Hawk 99.9; Championship Sponsor was The Morning Call. Leg Sponsors included: The Express-Times; Global Environmental Technologies, Inc.; Keystone Savings Bank and Nazareth National Bank & Trust Company; Lehigh Valley Road Runners; and PPL Corp. and its Affiliates; Front Runner Sponsors included: Coca-Cola Bottling of the Lehigh Valley; Relay Sponsors: First Star Savings Bank, Kraft Foods and Runner’s World; Water Stop Sponsors: Accenture; Cetronia Ambulance Corps; Clarke Systems; Giant Food Stores; Penske Truck Rentals; Re/Max Marketplace; and Stoneyfield Farms. Other sponsors included: Cassidy Communications, Inc.; Chiquita Fresh North America Mid-Atlantic Distribution Center; Laidlaw Transit; Lehigh Valley Neuromuscular Associates and Valley Farm Markets.

The American Red Cross of the Greater Lehigh Valley serves more than 660,000 residents in Carbon, Lehigh and Northampton counties. Last year the Red Cross provided health and safety education training and emergency relief services to more than 20,000 Lehigh Valley residents.

For more information about your local Red Cross, visit www.redcrosslv.org.