Runners Lace up for 20th Annual Strides for Stroke Sunday

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Jennifer Sherlock

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RUNNERS LACE UP FOR 20th ANNUAL STRIDES FOR STROKE 5K

– Annual 5K Run/Walk Raises Funds for Community Stroke Education and Advocacy Programs –

PHILADELPHIA, June 4, 2014 — This Sunday, June 8, the Delaware Valley Stroke Council (DVSC) will host its 20th Annual Dr. Howard Mazer Strides for Stroke Memorial 5K Run/Walk at 8:30 a.m.  The race begins at 26th Street and Benjamin Franklin Parkway and runs along the Schuylkill River on Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive.

More than 1,000 runners, walkers, stroke survivors and volunteers are expected to participate in Strides for Stroke to help raise awareness for stroke, the fourth leading cause of death and number one cause of adult disability. Proceeds from the race remain in the greater Delaware Valley and help guarantee the continued success of the DVSC’s programs, which include educating local community members on the warning signs and risk factors for stroke as well as working with local hospitals to ensure all stroke patients receive cutting-edge care. Additionally, the DVSC helps stroke survivors navigate the complex healthcare system so they can focus solely on making a swift recovery.

“I had a stroke almost eight years ago and doctors didn’t expect me to walk again,” said Silvia Rotenbury of Plymouth Meeting. “However, I’m participating in Strides for Stroke as a tribute to my husband, family, friends and physical therapists who supported me through this whole ordeal, and most importantly, I will be walking all 5 km.”

Founded by Toby Mazer, whose late husband Howard was a stroke survivor of nearly two decades, the DVSC provides a number of stroke education initiatives, including the critical F.A.S.T. acronym. “To help individuals identify stroke, we adopted the F.A.S.T. acronym, meaning the face must be observed for a droopy smile, raised arms checked for a downward drift and speech monitored for slurring,” Mazer said. If any of these conditions persist, then time is of the essence to call 911 because the person is suffering a stroke and brain cells are dying.”

One of the most powerful messages the DVSC promotes is that stroke can affect anyone regardless of age, gender or ethnicity. Cory Weissman, a Gettysburg college graduate and student-athlete, learned this firsthand when he suffered a stroke at the young age of 19. “I suddenly got hit with a piercing headache, impaired balance, and a complete loss of function in my leg,” Weissman said. “Then, my athletic trainers noticed my speech was impaired and realized something was very wrong.” As an athlete, Weissman knew that his stroke would forever affect the game of basketball he loved so dearly, but he was also determined to rise above it. After several years of recovering and taking care of his body, Weissman made the ultimate comeback, suited up and returned to the Gettysburg court. His hard work and dedication allowed him to make a single shot from the free throw line, proving that a stroke does not have to take over your life. Weissman said Strides for Stroke is the first 5K he’s running post-stroke, and his participation is just one of many examples of his hard work paying off.

For the 20th Annual Strides for Stroke, the DVSC has partnered with Parx Casino, Philly Pretzel Factory, Trader Joe’s, ShopRite J&J Snack Foods and additional local businesses and corporations to provide refreshments and information in a community-sponsored vendor alley. Participants and volunteers will enjoy race-day giveaways, gifts and prizes compliments of Modells, KIND Healthy Snacks, Enterprise CarShare and Yoga Garden. Paul Dunn of Level 1 Fitness will warm up the crowd along with DJ Steve Hawk of EMS Entertainment and 92.5 XTU prior to the start of the race.

To register for Strides for Stroke and learn more about the DVSC’s initiatives, visit www.phillystroke.org or call (215) 772-9040.

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About Delaware Valley Stroke Council:

Delaware Valley Stroke Council, a United Way agency, promotes optimal stroke care through advocacy, education, awareness, diagnosis and treatment. The Delaware Valley Stroke Council works as a citizens’ organization. Founded by a group of area neurologists, Delaware Valley Stroke Council serves Philadelphia and the Greater Delaware Valley, including South Jersey and Delaware. Over the years, the organization has continually expanded its programs to meet newly recognized needs, while establishing state and national constituencies in the process.