HAVERFORD, Pa. - The Fifth Annual Joe Schwartz '83 Memorial 3K
Run/Walk, held on the campus of Haverford College, brought a
successful conclusion to the inaugural celebration of NCAA Division
III Week on Sunday, April 15.
Capturing the spirit of community service and campus involvement
that permeates at Haverford, the Joe Schwartz Memorial 3K has
raised nearly $15,000 for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)
research since its inception.
The Division III Week celebration aimed to provide an
opportunity for all individuals associated with a Division III
institution or conference to observe the impact of athletics on the
campus and surrounding community, as student-athletes engage in
activities focusing on academic accomplishment, athletic experience
and leadership/community service/campus involvement.
The 2012 installment of the Joe Schwartz 3K saw over $1,200
raised as 129 participants of all ages completed the race course.
Overall, nearly 700 people have participated over the five-year
history of the event.
Fittingly, Elliot Schwartz, Joe's son and a current member of the
Haverford track & field team, captured this year's race crown
with a time of 10 minutes and 32.1 seconds. Garnering the top prize
in the women's division was Christine Gall, a senior who completed
her Haverford field hockey career this past fall.
Schwartz also earned recognition for being part of the winning
team (consisting of at least one student, one faculty/staff member
or alum, and one female). Joining Elliot on the top team was Nick
Vechik and Alyssa Mayo.
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 Middle Atlantic Conference
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 Mar. 2, 2008. Joe left behind two young sons,
both of whom are avid runners themselves, one even a member of
Haverford's team.
Joe was the epitome of what a coach wishes for in a
student-athlete, said head cross country and track & field head
coach Tom Donnelly. He was enthusiastic, supported his teammates
and loved his sport and school. Someone like Joe comes along once
in a lifetime.
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 from the event will be
donated to the ALS Association and directed towards ALS research.
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.
