11th Annual Lakewood Hospital Ambulance Chase

5K Start Line

Celebrate the Ambulance Chase on Sunday, May 6!

Presented by Donald Martens & Sons, this event is for everyone: from the youngest among us in the Children’s Chase to participants well into their eighties; from the serious runner to the leisurely walker.  The race is about more than just a start and finish line, it is about the journey of how we get there, and the journey that continues beyond the event.

Since its inception, the Ambulance Chase has generated nearly $350,000, touching countless patients and families through the enhancement of a myriad of programs including services for infants and their parents, teens and seniors, emergency medicine, diabetes management assistance, radiology, surgery and community outreach.  This year’s race will again benefit patients utilizing Lakewood Hospital’s full continuum of rehabilitation services as well as a variety of patient care programs.

The Ambulance Chase includes a 5K run/walk, 1 mile walk, and Children’s Chase (for ages 8 and under), with start and finish lines at Lakewood Park. Registration fee is $20 through April 20 and $25 thereafter. To register online, visit hermescleveland.com. Teams of 10 or more receive a discount, and teams of 20 or more have the option of a team name on the back of their t-shirt.  Teams must be submitted together by April 13. 

The impact of this event on patients and families who place their trust and faith in our hospital caregivers at their most vulnerable of times is awe-inspiring.

Bill Forester and Bob Pfahl are just two of the hundreds of patients who have been touched through their association with the Ambulance Chase and Lakewood Hospital.  Both are stroke survivors and credit their achievement of major milestones to the hospital’s Rehabilitation Services and its dedicated therapists. And both supported last year’s event, along with family and friends.

The Ambulance Chase brings people from all walks together to support a common goal.  “To see the droves of people who come out to participate is amazing. It is clear that Lakewood Hospital has touched the lives of many. It is a great way to support the Rehab department,” says Lori Forester, Bill’s wife. 

Bob’s wife Karen notes, “There has not been a moment since Bob's stroke that we have felt alone in his recovery.  He has been surrounded by caring, encouraging and positive thinking therapists and medical professionals who work tirelessly with him to achieve his goal,” she says. “The Ambulance Chase gives us the opportunity to say thank you.”  As a way of giving back, Karen is serving on the 2012 Race Committee.

"It is exciting to be involved with a cause that benefits so many, and the commitment of the hospital team makes me passionate about the Ambulance Chase. The benefits that result from the race are reason enough to just be a small part of it," notes Bob.

So, whether you have participated before or are new to the event, join us on May 6 as we continue to impact those patients and families served by Lakewood Hospital.

For registration or sponsorship information, visit lakewoodhospitalfoundation.org/ambulancechase or call 216.529.7009.

Polly Stringer

By Polly Stringer

Read More on Features
Volume 8, Issue 6, Posted 9:13 PM, 03.20.2012