Runners Hot on the Trail to Raise Funds for the American Red Cross

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News Release: July 18, 2004
Contact: Janice Osborne, Director-Communications and Marketing (610) 865-4400, ext. 262

The team name and T-shirt said it all: In Memory of Carol.

“My mom really loved the Red Cross River Relay Race. It’s an annual family tradition. She would drive me and my friends to each leg of the race. She always was there to cheer us on,” said Easton runner Bob Weiss about his mother Carol who passed away suddenly last March. “It was only fitting that we run in her memory this year. We even had specially made T-shirts in her honor. My uncle usually ran on our team, but this year he took mom’s place doing the driving. She would have wanted that.”

Weiss’s team was just one of 107 teams, and 64 iron runners, who signed up to participate in the 23-mile race today (7/18) to benefit the American Red Cross of the Greater Lehigh Valley. In all, 599 runners took part in the race that began at Allentown Canal Park, weaved through Bethlehem and finished at Riverside Park in Easton. Runners ranged from 12 to 72 years of age and came from eight states: Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, New York, North Carolina, Connecticut, Maryland, and New Mexico.

“This is my favorite race,” said Debi Azemar, an accomplished iron and marathon runner from Allentown. “It’s so scenic along the trail. The race starts early in the morning when it’s cool and you’ve got 23-miles of soft surface and no traffic. I enjoy running races just because of their scenic appeal. And this is definitely one of them.”

Allentown firefighter Jim Deily believes the race is a great way to raise funds for the local Red Cross. “We work side by side with the Red Cross,” Deily commented. “The Red Cross is there for families in times when they need it the most.” This was Deily’s ninth year as a participant in the race.

“Fund-raising events like this one help the Red Cross fulfill its mission to help people prevent, prepare for and respond to emergencies,” John Hughes, executive director of the local Red Cross told the audience at the race awards ceremony. “Thanks to runner entries and sponsors, gross revenue from this year’s event topped nearly $30,000. That’s a record for this event and we can’t thank you enough. In a fiscal year where Red Cross responded to a record high 131 disasters in the Greater Lehigh Valley, your support is greatly needed.

“It takes a tremendous amount of people-power to pull off a race of this size, and on behalf of the Red Cross, I want to personally thank the 150 volunteers who gave their time today. From the cyclists, nurses and radio club members along the course who ensured runner safety to the folks who handed out water, provided course direction and timing and to those who set up the food and beverages at the finish line – we thank you.”

Major sponsors of the race were: The Hawk 99.9, Geico and The Morning Call. Other leading sponsors were: The Express-Times/The Allentown Times, Global Environmental Technologies, PPL Corp. and its affiliates, Lehigh Valley Road Runners, Aesculap, Health Network Laboratories and Coca-Cola Company.

Race volunteer committee members include: Brian Patterson, chairman; Jim Bedick, Barb Deitrick, Mark Donham, Joe Klo, Charlie Lamonte, Pat Moodie, Lori Novak, and Bob Williamson.

Award winners by category (finish times were not available):

Overall relay team winner: Team Aardvark Men

Overall iron winner male: Creighton Faust

Overall iron winner female: Angela Surface

Men’s Open (any age)
1. Team Aardvark Men
2. Shippensburg Blue
3. PA’s Best

Women’s Open (any age)
1. Team Aardvark Women
2. Canal Crew
3. Chew Street Striders

Mixed Open (any age)
1. Take Five
2. 2 Husbands, 2 Wives and a Kid
3. Ott Street Warriors

Corporate Men’s Open (any age)
1. Orasure Technologies
2. Big Dog’s Brigade
3. Energy Savers

Corporate Women’s Open (any age)
1. MedEvac Ground Crew

Corporate Mixed (any age)
1. Deceptively Slow
2. Law and Disorder
3. Call 911

Men’s Sub-Masters (min. age 30)
1. Two Chicks Short of Mixed
2. DUMF
3. Galloping Guiness

Women’s Sub-Masters (min. age 30)
1. Healthcare Harriers
2. Last But Not Least
3. Athena

Mixed Sub-Masters (min. age 30)
1. Has Been Track Club
2. Bux-Mont RC Team 1
3. The Curps

Men’s Masters (min. age 40)
1. Lehigh Hiss’n Goosechasers
2. The Old Men and The River
3. Team Tortoise

Women’s Masters (min. age 40)
1. SLOW (Super Lazy Old Women)
2. Bosom Buddies

Mixed Masters (min. age 40)
1. Lock House Harriers
2. The Central Bucks and Does
3. Heiney’s Harriers

Men’s Grand Masters (min. age 50)
1. Old Men of the River
2. The Grand Masters

Women’s Grand Masters (min. age 50)
1. Menopause Miracles

Race Sponsor
1. Heimbach, Spitko & Heckman
2. The Morning Crawlers
3. Run TMC

Family
1. Wacki Pack
2. Werley Birds
3. Eureka!

High School Girls’ Team (Class of ‘04 or younger)
1. Quick Chicks

High School Boys' Team (Class of '04 or younger)
1. The Best High School Team Ever

Iron – Male
1. Creighton Faust (first overall)
2. Christopher Reed
3. Brian Hendricks

Iron – Female
1. Angela Surface (first female overall)
2. Heidi Pernia
3. Anna Scheinzbach

Iron Masters – Male (min. age 40)
1. Dean Dimmig
2. DeForrest (Jim) Deily
3. Ed Helfrick

Iron Masters – Female (min. age 40)
1. Leslie Baga
2. Lisa Mertz
3. Lynette High

Iron Grand Masters - Male (min. age 50)
1. Herman Richards
2. Neil Policelli
3. Joe Burzynski

Iron Grand Masters - Female (min. age 50)
1. Mary Vish

Team raising the most money: Energy Savers

Individual raising the most money: Russ Owen

Most creative team name: Wiz! Bang! Klunk! (of Klunk & Millan Advertising)

Best dressed team: Quick Chicks

Complete race results will be available online at www.redcrosslv.org in late July.

Premier sponsor: The Hawk 99.9; Championship sponsors: The Morning Call; Geico; Leg sponsors: PPL Corp. & its affiliates; Global Environmental Technologies; Lehigh Valley Road Runners; The Express-Times/The Allentown Times; Front Runner sponsors: Aesculap; Coca-Cola Company (LV Syrup Plant); Health Network Laboratories; Relay sponsors: Cassidy Communications, Inc.; Harleysville National Bank & Trust; Heimbach, Spitko & Heckman; Klunk & Millan Advertising; Kraft; RCN; Terragroup; Water Stop sponsors: Accenture; Easton Hospital; IKN Inc.; Lehigh Valley Racquet & 24-7 Fitness Clubs; MSG Associates, Inc.; Olympus; Rothrock Motor Sales, Inc.; UGI Utilities, Inc.; Supporting sponsors: Christine Beck, M.D.; Buckeye Pipe Line Company; Barbara Deitrick; Penn Aluminum & Vinyl; Richards Innovative Window Design; Allegra Print & Imaging; Bethlehem Teacher's FCU; Chiquita Fresh North America Mid-Atlantic Distribution Center; Entenmann's Bakery Outlet; FedEx Kinko's; Giant Food Stores; Penske Truck Rental; Runner's World; Schwab Screen Printing; Suburban EMS and Valley Farm Market.

The American Red Cross of the Greater Lehigh Valley serves more than 660,000 residents in Lehigh, Northampton and Carbon 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 or volunteer opportunities, visit www.redcrosslv.org. #Start Article Here #