HAVERFORD, Pa. - The Haverford College community turned out in
record numbers on Sunday, April 27, to unite in the fight against
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) by participating in the 2014
Joe Schwartz '83 Memorial 3K Run/Walk.
A group of over 300 people gathered at Founders Green for the
annual event including an event-record 255 race finishers.
The prior six years of the event saw over $23,000 donated in the
fight against ALS and the community came through again on Sunday. A
gross of over $10,000 in 2014 makes the latest installment of the
race the most successful one yet.
Elliot Schwartz, Joe's son and a member of the Haverford's cross
country and track & field programs, finished first in the race
for the third straight year with a time of 9 minutes, 37.3 seconds.
Haverford field hockey coach Jackie Cox was the top female finisher
in 13:16.9 which was good for 26th place.
Nancy Sunderland from the Business Office won the top prize in
the 10-week training contest that led up to the race which saw
individuals and departments compete against each other through
exercising and participating in fitness class opportunities. The
highest-scoring team was T-Rex Hates Burpies (Sebastianna Skalisky,
Chloe Tucker, William Leeser, Nicole Hesson, Lilly Lavner).
Joe Schwartz graduated from Haverford College in 1983. He was a
committed member of Haverford’s cross country and track teams
for the four years he attended Haverford, and he excelled in both
sports. He encouraged those who won MAC Championships as well as
students who were casual participants to be part of something
bigger than themselves. From the moment he stepped on the Haverford
campus, Joe was integral in building a proud tradition of athletic
excellence at this school.
In 1995, Joe contracted Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) at
the age of 34. He first noticed the symptoms when he was out
training for road races. He courageously endured the hardships
imposed by this cruel disease for thirteen years until his
unfortunate death on March 2, 2008.
The Joe Schwartz ’83 Memorial 3K Run/Walk is designed to
attract the running superstar and the walking novice because that
is exactly how Joe would want it. He simply loved people lacing up
their shoes and enjoying the freedom to run and walk, a freedom
that was deprived from Joe by ALS. Proceeds will be donated to The
ALS Association and directed towards ALS research and patient
services. The ALS Association is the only national non-profit
organization dedicated solely to the fight against ALS. The cause,
cure and means of control of ALS are unknown. Symptoms of ALS, also
known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, include the wasting and
paralysis of the muscles of the limbs and trunk as well as those
that control vital functions such as speech, swallowing and
respiration.
