Jefferson Health Cherry Hill Hospital hosted its first cherry blossom run and one-mile walk on April 26, drawing 333 participants to raise money for the Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Centers.
Because Jefferson has a partnership with the Philadelphia Eagles, its mascot Swoop and some of the team’s cheerleaders were at the event to cheer runners and walkers at the start and finish lines. The competition raised about $60,000 for the cancer centers and their patients.
Kim Edson, regional chief nursing officer for Jefferson, had a husband, stepson and mother in the race. She was surprised at the number of runners and walkers.
“And it’s just been overwhelming with the response that we had from people that signed up …” Edson marveled. “Especially with the weather today, too, I feel like there are runs like this, and if it’s not nice, people just won’t show up. But it was awesome to see so many people show up. Blew us out of the water.”
Tamara LaCouture, chief of cancer services at Jefferson, explained how race proceeds will benefit Kimmel patients.
“It’s (the money raised) gonna be used to provide additional comprehensive support,” she noted. “That includes our greatest needs fund, which provides grant support to help offset some of the financial toxicity the patients experience. We also have a transportation fund because there are many patients who are unable to get to therapy because they don’t have transportation.”
LaCouture – who took part in the race – was surprised at the event turnout, initially expected to be 150 to 200 people. She believes it’s important for the community to support the cancer centers.
“So we live and work in our communities so community support and care for our community is an incredibly important mission of ours,” she noted. “Being able to partner with our community for an event like this is incredibly meaningful and is what we love to do.”
Steven Gartzman crosses the finish line – with Aaron Aningalan right behind him – at the first cherry blossom run for the township.
Steven Gartzman won the race with a time of 23:44. He usually runs half marathons, but the township event was the first time he’s done a 5K.
“I’ve always been connected to this hospital and to this community,” he stated. “And 41 years ago, my dad ran this race and my mom met him at the end of it with me in the stroller as a baby. It’s a very meaningful thing today.”
Gartzman’s father Alan was a doctor at then-Kennedy Hospital in the 80s, before it was renamed and later merged with Jefferson in 2017. He died in a car crash in 1985. His widow, Carol Gooberman, established the Alan Z. Gartzman D.O. Memorial Fund, which provides scholarships and support to doctors and nurses.
Aaron Aningalan, who finished the run with a time of 24:07, had done 5Ks before. Several of his family members have past ties to the hospital.
” … My mom’s worked here for 18 years, retired in 2016,” he said. “My brother works here … and my sister is a social worker for this hospital. And I work as a physical therapy rehab aid. Really long family history with this hospital.”
While Aningalan finished right before Gartzman, he placed third; Dragos Stemate finished second with a time of 23:46. Of the women who raced, Joelene Piccinino finished first with a time of 25:47, followed two seconds later by Katy Storti and Margaret O’Neill.
Medals went to the top three men and women grouped by ages, which ranged from 11 to 69.
Philadelphia Eagles mascot Swoop high fived walkers as they began the run and walk at the township’s Jefferson hospital on April 26.
