Despite inclement weather, nearly 5,000 participants walked 5k courses and helped raise more than $725,000 at four Northwell Health Walks across Long Island, Westchester and Staten Island on Sunday. Supporters laced up to support women and children’s health initiatives, and cardiac and cancer care at Northwell Health hospitals in their communities.
At Jones Beach, Mr. and Mrs. Met greeted walkers, children played games and danced to music and Zumba instructors warmed up the crowd – all part of a festive day with a serious goal: to support local Northwell hospitals in each walk location. The Jones Beach Walk benefitted the Katz Institute for Women’s Health and Cohen Children’s Medical Center in New Hyde Park.
“The money that we raise goes, whether it’s for Katz Institute or Cohen Children’s, right into care for the community, so it’s really important that people understand what we’re doing,” said Brian Lally, senior vice president and chief development officer for Northwell Health.
Since its inception, the Northwell Health Walk has raised nearly $4 million. Donations will be collected through June 8.
The programs the Walk supports save lives. Participating at the Jones Beach Walk was 8-year-old Elly Kuchynskas, of Bellmore, LI, who a year ago, developed myocarditis, a dangerous inflammation of her heart muscle. Thanks to the work of doctors at Cohen Children’s Medical Center, she made a steady and thorough recovery.
Also present was Angela Mancini, of of East Elmhurst, Queens, who experienced two separate bouts of breast cancer, but credits the caring and brilliant doctors and nurses at Northwell for guiding her through the toughest of journeys.
“At Northwell Health, it’s in our DNA to see people fully and treat everyone who walks through our doors like a person rather than another patient,” said Michael Skovira, a Northwell physician’s assistant who hosted the opening ceremony. “We do this because Northwell Health understands that staying healthy matters to the more than 2 million people we care for in the New York metro area.
“Northwell Health cares for people who speak more than 175 languages,” he added. “We go into schools to talk about nutrition and exercise. We do outreach to immigrant communities who might be too nervous to step foot in a hospital. We pioneer breakthrough research. And we’re able to do that because of people like you who live and support our mission.”
