Calling on You to Make a Difference
July 28, 2008

Mark and Kathleen Jobes
Honorary Event Chairs | Lehigh Valley Hospital Marathon for Via

Knowing you’ve made a difference in someone’s life and in our community can be one of the richest rewards of helping others.  Everyone deserves the chance to succeed and, through the support of our community, VIA of the Lehigh Valley is able to provide vital services that help people with disabilities live and connect in the community, enriching lives every day.

As runners and Lehigh Valley residents, it is important for us to give back to a sport and a community that has given us so much.  The Valley is home to one of the largest running clubs in the country, the Lehigh Valley Road Runners, which has a deep tradition, strong leadership and a strong commitment to the community.  We are also home to organizations, like Lehigh Valley Hospital and Rodale, who have long promoted health and wellness.  We are proud to call this community our home.

That is why we are calling on the generous community spirit of the Lehigh Valley to support the Lehigh Valley Hospital Marathon for VIA on Sunday, September 7.  With so many races to choose from, what makes this one special?  It is the only marathon and relay race in the Valley.  It is run on one of the best trails in Pennsylvania, the Lehigh River canal towpath.  Run through all three of our downtowns, you’ll see blue heron, deer, turtles, rivers and canals, and beautiful parks.

The LVH Marathon raises money for one of the longest standing and important non-profits in our community, VIA.  What makes VIA special?  VIA provides services for children and adults with disabilities, like autism, Down’s syndrome and cerebral palsy, from birth through retirement.  In recent years, due to significant funding decreases, VIA has turned to the Lehigh Valley to help replace that lost funding through events like the LVH Marathon.  With our help, VIA will continue to provide children the chance to overcome and address developmental delays, help adults with disabilities find a job in the community that they love and help people connect in the community through volunteer and social activities. 

VIA is about giving everyone the opportunity and resources to succeed and connect.  Connect to family and friends, connect to the community, connect to the things that make our lives richer.  Take for example, VIA’s Teen Summer Experience.  This summer more than 20 teens are doing things that many people thought they couldn’t.  Like navigating a high ropes course three stories off the ground at Dutch Springs or doing mock job interviews at Olympus or working on Rodale’s Experimental Farm.  In two short months, these teens have been shown a world of possibility where the only thing limiting them is their willingness to try something new, to do the unexpected.  These teens have the opportunity to create their own goals and dreams, the opportunity to decide where their life will lead. 

That’s why it’s important to get involved.  And there are so many ways – marathon runners, relay teams, 5K walk teams, volunteers, donors or sponsors – it doesn’t matter which you choose, just do something to make a difference in the lives of people with disabilities.  Team up with friends, family, neighbors and co-workers for the relay or 5K walk.  If running’s not your thing, volunteer and help a great Lehigh Valley organization continue to make a difference in our community.

Our local businesses are getting involved and are committed to help make the LVH Marathon for VIA a success.  Business leaders like Lehigh Valley Hospital, WFMZ-TV / Channel 69 News, Wegmans and the Morning Call have stepped forward to say that the services VIA provides for families in the Lehigh Valley are important to make our community stronger.

The Lehigh Valley Hospital Marathon for VIA will continue to grow, as will the need for our community to call on VIA to help our children learn and mature, and help adults with disabilities achieve their goals and aspirations.  Run, walk or volunteer with us for a community that provides opportunities for children and adults of all ability levels, a community that provides resources to help people live, work and connect in their neighborhoods, and a community that embraces all of its members.

To learn more about the Lehigh Valley Hospital Marathon for VIA on Sunday, September 7 go to ViaNet.org or call 484-893-5389.

For more information, contact:
Lisa Walkiewicz, Communications Director
L.Walkiewicz@vianet.org | 484-893-5390